The Supreme Court has supported the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal for striking out witnesses of the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar’s testimonies on manipulation in the election.
The seven-membered panel, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, described Atiku’ ‘s witnesses’ testimonies as hearsays.
Okoro said, “A political party can’t appoint an octopus agent who will be at every polling unit on election day.
“Atiku’s agents can only testify in their polling units where they witnessed what they saw, but not across the country where they were not present.
”I adopt the decision of the lower court which is in line with a plethora of precedents. The witnesses’ testimonies were hearsay.
“The finding of the lower court in discountenancing the Atiku’s witnesses cannot be faulted.”