In a significant development at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in Abuja, a digital forensic expert, Mr. Hitler Nwala, testified on Thursday, revealing his findings about the alleged wiping off of presidential election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This testimony comes as part of the ongoing legal challenge by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), against the declaration of President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the presidential election. CURRENT REPORT BLOG post, we provide a detailed account of the expert’s testimony and its implications for the case.
Digital Forensic Expert Uncovers Deleted Results
Mr. Hitler Nwala, the 25th witness called by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s legal team, testified before the PEPC on the alleged wiping off of presidential election results. He stated that the deleted results were stored in the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, which were used during the elections. The BVAS machines were responsible for voter accreditation and the uploading of polling unit results.
Atiku and his party have maintained that the data from the BVAS machines would support their claim that the presidential election was rigged in favor of President Bola Tinubu. The expert’s testimony aims to establish the credibility of this allegation.
Forensic Analysis of BVAS Machines
Under the lead counsel for the petitioners, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, Mr. Nwala explained that he was summoned through a subpoena to appear as a witness in the case. He conducted a thorough inspection and forensic analysis of 110 BVAS machines deployed for the presidential election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
According to the expert, INEC claimed that they had to wipe off the information stored in the BVAS machines to redeploy them for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections held on March 18. However, the expert’s analysis suggests otherwise.
Challenging the Expert’s Report
During the cross-examination by INEC’s counsel, Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, the authenticity of the witness’s report was brought into question. Mr. Mahmoud argued that the analysis conducted on 110 BVAS devices was insufficient to establish any irregularities on the part of the Commission.
Implications for the Case
The testimony of Mr. Hitler Nwala holds significant implications for the ongoing electoral petition case. The alleged wiping off of presidential election results raises concerns about the integrity and transparency of the electoral process. It remains to be seen how this revelation will impact the final judgment of the court and the outcome of the case.
The expert testimony provided by Mr. Hitler Nwala in the PEPC case sheds light on the alleged wiping off of presidential election results by INEC. As the legal battle continues, the court will carefully consider the evidence presented and make a fair and just determination. The outcome of this case has the potential to shape the future of Nigerian politics and the electoral system as a whole. Stay tuned for further updates as the proceedings unfold.
