As projected by this reporter, Chief Willie Obiano today admitted before the Anambra State Election Petition Tribunal led by Hon Justice Ishaq Bello that all the four names Found in the INEC voter register were his, but the age of 56 written on one of them is incorrect because his correct age is 58.
0biano’s testimony came moments before the three-man tribunal led by Dr Chike Obidigbo of APGA on December 19,2013 to 7th May 2014 for adopting of final address by parties.
Obiano also claimed that he was never in Eri Primry Scool, otuocha to register, but rather was in INEC office on 3rd September were he was issued with a new voter card concluding the process of his transfer of his voter records from Lagos.
Obiano did not explain how the names which he identified got there , but said it could be an error from INEC because he registered only in Lagos where he lived claiming further that he presented himself to INEC office in Lagos on August 19,2013, where he met one Mr Nsofor, who guided him to apply for the transfer.
All petitioners in the four petitions before the tribunal have tendered documents which have been admitted in evidence to show that Obiano is still a registered voter in Lagos State till date.
Obiano insisted that he never went to Eri Primary School , Otuocha to register as a voter.Obiano is the only witness for himself who is the first responding in the matter.INEC did not call any witness.
The APGA candidate who was sworn in as governor on 17th March may yet return to the tribunal on Monday next week to testify in another set of three petition- EPT/AN/GOV/02/2013 instituted by Senator Chris Gige, EPT/AN/GOV/03/2013 brought before the tribunal by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and EPT/AN/GOV/04/2013 filed by PDO candidate in the questioned election, Comrade Tony Nwoye .
Obiano declined to speak to the media, which covered the proceeding as he simply matched past them and into his waiting car.
In brief chat with the media, Counsel for Obidigbo, Nzeoba Maduabuchi said he is satisfied with the day’s proceeding particularly with the admission by Obiano that all four registrations bear his name and particulars.
Said Maduabuchi : ‘ INEC which is the owner of the records and the custodian have not testified that the certified witnesses called by the petitioners for our
Obidigbo had tendered a certified True Copy of the Oluwakemi/Zainab Strret
Junction Registration Centre Voter Register, in Ifako/Soluyi Registration
Area of Kosofe Local Government in Lagos State certified by INEC in Lagos
State to show that Obidigbo is still a registered voter in Lagos.
Senator Ngige had tendered the same document in furtherance of his own
petition, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Tony Nwoye, as
separate parties in their respective petitions , EPT/AN/GOV/03/2013 and
EPT/AN/GOV/04/2013 also included the certified exhibit , admitted in
Ngige’s case as Exhibit P.424.
He also said when asked how sure he was that the document he tendered as
exhibit relected the current state of the Lagos register that ‘the document
that has been tendered was certified on 24th April,2014.
The tribunal had on Wednesday refused an attempt by Awomolo to tender a document purpoted to
be Obiano’s letter of application for transfer of voter information and
INEC’s aproval folllowing the objection raised by Nzeoba Maduabuch, cousel
for Obidigbo on the basis that the document was neither pleaded , listed
nor certified and Awomolo’s prompt withdrawal of the alien document.
The revelation of having his name in four places came to journalists as a surprise. Before now, only three were known.
