A digital forensic expert, Hitler Nwala, yesterday, told the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deleted presidential election results of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He claimed the results were wiped off from the commission’s Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine, under the guise of preparing for the March 18 governorship polls….CONTINUE READING...CONTINUE READING
Nwala, led in evidence by Chris Uche, counsel for the petitioners (Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar), told the court he examined 110 BVAS machines in FCT.
The expert, who was a subpoenaed witness, said during cross-examination that since there was deviation in 110 analysed samples, the aberration is likely to increase with larger number of samples.
Counsel for INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud, during cross-examination, faulted the sample size used, pointing out that 110 devices from the 3,263 deployed during the election were only 3.5 per cent of the total deployed in the FCT and 0.06 per cent of devices deployed in the country.
At the proceedings, Atiku tendered a certified true copy of INEC’s Form EC8A for 20 local councils in Ogun State; 17 local councils in Ondo state; and 20 local councils in Rivers State. Counsel for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lateef Fagbemi, and other respondents opposed admissibility of the evidence.
The court adjourned hearing to today. Also, two subpoenaed witnesses of Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, yesterday, contradicted each other on powers and responsibilities of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) regarding the presidential elections and cybersecurity.
Chibuike Ngwoke told the court that NITDA is expected to issue an International System for Standardisation (ISO) certification to INEC, in line with its establishment Act 2007.
However, another witness, Obi Emmanuel Edet, a legal officer with NITDA, contradicted the position, saying there is no provision in the NITDA Act that gives it such role.
Ngwoke, a digital cybersecurity expert, testified in Obi’s petition against President Tinubu. He was led in evidence by counsel for the petitioner, Patrick Ikwueto. He told the court he was commissioned by LP to do cybersecurity and risk analyses of the election.
All the counsel for the respondent objected to admissibility of the witness’ statements on oath but reserved their reason till final written addresses.
When cross-examined by counsel for Tinubu on whether it was compulsory to provide INEC with and ISO certificate, he answered in the affirmative. On whether it was provided for in the NITDA Act, he said it was. On the contrary, Edet, who was also led in evidence by Ikwueto, told the court he did not have the documents demanded by the court. Hearing was adjourned to today.
MEANWHILE, INEC has resolved it would review its performance during conduct of the 2023 general elections. National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement, yesterday, said the move is line with the commission’s practice over the years. Okoye recalled that the commission had been holding review meetings after every general election since 2011.
He said the review would involve INEC officials at national and state levels as well as stakeholders, with a view to learning lessons and charting a way forward.
Okoye said: “At state level, the internal review will involve the commission’s regular and ad hoc staff, including Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), the 774 Electoral Officers, Heads of Departments, Administrative Secretaries as well as some Presiding Officers and Collation/Returning Officers.
“The external engagement will involve critical stakeholders, such as political parties, security agencies, election observers, the media and service providers, such as transporters that facilitated the movement of personnel and materials for the election.
“The review will focus on all aspects of electoral activities before, during and after the elections. Specifically, the commission welcomes actionable recommendations from stakeholders towards strengthening institutional capacity for the discharge of its responsibilities and enhancement of processes and procedures.
“Detailed schedule of activities and timelines will be released immediately after the meeting with RECs on July 4, 2023….CONTINUE READING
