August 16, (THEWILL) – The Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribuna, on Wednesday, admitted more documents against the victory of the incumbent Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 governorship election in the State, Abdullahi Sule.
The tribunal sat in continuation of hearing in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Dr David Ombugadu, against the victory of Governor Sule.
At the tribunal in Lafia, INEC produced additional documents through its representative pursuant to the subpoena issued by the tribunal and served on INEC upon the application of Counsel to the petitioner, Jibrin Samuel Okutekpa, SAN.
INEC representative, a Deputy Director of Software and Training, Ama Ibom Agwu, who appeared as PW20, representing the Director of ICT, INEC Headquarters Abuja, informed the tribunal that they produced a Certificate of Compliance, forms EC8A, iREV copy report, forms EC8A for LGEA Primary School Kurikyo, Bakin Rijiya polling units in Lafia Local Government Area of the State.
Okutekpa had earlier informed the tribunal that the presentation of the key documents by the INEC Director of ICT was necessary because, according to him, INEC was responsible for conducting the governorship election in the State.
The Petitioner’s Counsel further appealed to the tribunal to allow him present one final star witness, who is already prepared to testify, adding that the presentation of the star witness will mark the formal closure of PDP’s case at the tribunal.
On the part of the respondent’s Counsels, Rotimi Ogunwoso, SAN, for the APC, Adebayo Adelodu, SAN, for Governor Sule and Ishaka Dikko, SAN, for INEC they all told the tribunal that they would respond in their final written addresses.
After listening to all the Counsels in the petition and the INEC representative, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, admitted all the documents presented at the tribunal and marked them as exhibits
He later adjourned the hearing of the matter till Thursday, August 17, 2023.
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
