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A man who claims to be a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has told a court that he participated in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election in Oyo State last year.
The witness, Maruf Alimi, made the confession on Monday at the Oyo State High Court where the case seeking the disqualification of the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Seyi Makinde.
Senator Ayoade Adeseun who contested the primary against Mr Makinde had filed the suit to challenge Makinde’s victory at the primary election which took place on September 30, 2018.
He had stormed out of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, venue of the election, claiming that non members of the party were recruited to participate in the process. He later sued the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
As the court sitting began on Monday, two witnesses called by Adeseun’s counsel, Mr. Michael Lana, told the court presided over by Justice Ganiyu Sunmonu, that they were brought in from Iwo local government in Osun State as fake PDP delegates to vote for Makinde in the election.
Alimi, one of the witnesses called, said he and 19 others were recruited to vote in the primary election.
His words: “I am a politician, a member of APC in Osun state. About 20 of us were approached where we usually gather in Ogburo town in Iwo local government.
“The man who approached us told us that he is a member of PDP and he brought us to Ibadan. We were lodged at the A3 hotel in Ibadan on the 29th September.
“We were later taken to the field where the election was conducted, and the 20 of us were given delegates cards.
“Once they call a local government, those who brought us would say we should go up to vote and we voted for Seyi Makinde that day.
Another witness, Oluwatosin Alimi also told the court that she was brought along with other nine women from Iwo to vote for Makinde.
During the cross examination, the defendant’s counsel, Adeniyi Farinto alleged that the two witnesses from Iwo were fake witnesses and liars.
The court proceeding was however adjourned till Tuesday for further cross-examination of other witnesses.