Buhari’s petition: CPC shops for forensic experts

Fresh facts emerged yesterday that the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) is shopping for forensic experts from abroad to prove that its candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, won the just-concluded presidential election.

The CPC and Buhari are however likely to face fresh hurdles on forensic analysis bordering on the discretion of the tribunal, the logistics of moving the ballot papers to the tribunal and time constraint.

The party also yesterday condemned the denial of entry visa for ex-US Ambassador to Nigeria , John Campbell.

But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday filed its response to CPC’s petition and insisted that the presidential election was free and fair.

Investigation by The Nation showed that the CPC is still searching for forensic experts who may be "tactically unveiled" when its petition gets to a crucial stage.

A top party source said: "We are determined to employ forensic analysis to prove our point that President Goodluck Jonathan got a "stolen mandate."

"We are shopping for forensic experts from some countries and at the critical moment, we will bring them into the country to justify our petition.

"For tactical reasons, we will not unveil our forensic experts until the last minute. If a former US Ambassador to Nigeria can be denied visa, this government is desperate and it could make our forensic experts to suffer a similar fat

Speaking on the hurdles the CPC has to face, a top source added: "The CPC is going about its case as if forensic analysis of the ballot papers is automatic. The party has forgotten that it is at the discretion of the court.

"The legal teams of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have drawn the battle line and may oppose the application for forensic analysis. So, the CPC will need to convince the court beyond reasonable doubt why the analysis is necessary."

A top source in INEC also added: "A major challenge the CPC may face is time constraint. The tribunal has only 180 days within which to hear the petition of the party. Can it analyze all the presidential ballot papers in 20 or 22 states within 180 days?

"Yet, this is a party that is still coming up with a motion for the leave of the court on certain issues on Monday. Yet, we have not got to pre-hearing stage which will be regulated at the end of pleadings by all parties. So, time is not on the side of the CPC for forensic analysis. But we will see how it will go."