Yakubu's testimony comes in response to Atiku Abubakar's petition challenging President Bola Tinubu's victory in the February 25 presidential election. Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused INEC and Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the polls.
Lead counsel for Atiku, Chris Uche, informed the court on Tuesday that Yakubu would appear before them on Thursday. Atiku's legal team had subpoenaed Yakubu to testify on the conduct of the disputed election and to present certain sensitive electoral documents relevant to the petitioner's case.
Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), ensured that INEC, Tinubu, and the APC's legal teams were notified of Yakubu's scheduled appearance to avoid any disruptions during the hearing. The petitioner's legal team has already presented 18 witnesses, and on Tuesday, called their first star witness, Alex Ter, a lawyer and former Attorney General of Benue State.
In his testimony, Ter alleged that the February presidential election was rife with widespread irregularities and conducted in disregard of the Electoral Act of 2022. Ter, who served as the national coordinator of the PDP's Situation Room during the election, presented video clips featuring Yakubu and INEC's Commissioner for Voter Education, Festus Okoye, pledging the electronic transmission of election results.
The court admitted the video clips as exhibits, along with other documents such as the guidelines for election officers in 2022 and the manual for election guidelines in 2023. Despite objections from Tinubu and the APC, the court deemed the videos admissible.
Ter clarified under cross-examination that he was not an ICT expert and that his report on the election's outcome was obtained from PDP agents at the collation centers. He asserted that the presidential election was null and void due to alleged electoral malpractices by INEC.
Following Ter's testimony, the court adjourned the case until Wednesday for further proceedings. Atiku and his running mate, Peter Obi, are contesting Tinubu's victory and are seeking a declaration of their own presidency, along with a call for a fresh election. The court proceedings continue as the legal teams present their arguments and evidence in this significant election petition case.