Forensic experts begin work in Ekiti

Dapo Falade, Ado-Ekiti - 01.02.2008

THE forensic and hand-writing experts contacted by the Ekiti State governor, Mr. Segun Oni, on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti commenced work on the materials used for the last April governorship election in the state.

The state election petition tribunal had last November granted the governor the leave to hire the services of the US-based experts to inspect the EC8A and EC8B ballot papers used in some specified areas in the state, just as it had earlier granted the state chapter of the Action Congress(AC) the same facility.

The AC, which is the petitioner at the tribunal, and the initiator of the use of forensic machines for the examination of the electoral materials, had late last year concluded its own exercise, after which the PDP prayed the tribunal to grant it leave to conduct the exercise.

The governorship candidate of the AC in the state in the election, Dr Kayode Fayemi, is currently challenging the victory of the governor at the tribunal over the conduct of the election.

The three American forensic experts, Mr. John Lazareretto, Mr. Willy Smith and an unidentified consultant who were contracted by the PDP for the exercise, arrived the state on Wednesday and were seen at the venue of the tribunal.

The exercise, which commenced at about 12.55 p. m. at the old secretariat of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) located on Secretariat road, Ado-Ekiti, was witnessed by three AC counsel.

Although, the exercise was delayed for some time due to what they described as minor logistics problems, it eventually commenced at 12.55 p.m. after those problems were said to have been resolved.

The PDP counsel, Mr Tayo Aluko, who spoke to journalists, said that every necessary arrangement had been concluded for a hitch-free exercise.

The AC counsel, Mr Lawrence Lekwauwa, while speaking to journalists, said they were prepared for the exercise.