Ogun tribunal admits 150,656 ballot papers as exhibits

The Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal, on Thursday, admitted in evidence, 150,656 ballot papers used for the conduct of the March 18 governorship election in the state.

Newspot reports that the tribunal had earlier admitted a video evidence tendered by a star witness of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sunkanmi Oyejide.

The documents were admitted in evidence to support the petition filed by the PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, who is challenging the victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The ballot papers were tendered by a Forensic Examiner, Reginald Nwoze, a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police.

Though the respondents’ lawyers objected to the admissibility of the ballot papers, they reserved their reasons until final addresses.

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While being cross-examined by the respondents, Nwoze said he examined and analysed the ballot papers from 12 Local government areas of the state.

According to him, the ballot papers tendered were sourced from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Giving the analysis of the ballot papers, Nwoze said, 37,401 were with multiple thumb prints, 3,470 were squashed and smeared, while 109,785 were with normal thumb prints.

Showing the court his findings, Nwoze disclosed that votes were said to be cast in some of the ballot papers using white board markers instead of being thumb printed.