PDP Candidate Suffers Set Back As Tribunal Dismisses Oral Application
From Yakubu Mustapha Minna
Minna, People’s Democratic Party PDP candidate Shehu Mohammed Abdullahi, challenging the out come of Niger North Senatorial election of Abubakar Sani Bello as senator elect has suffered another set back at the tribunal sitting in Minna, Niger State capital.
The tribunal sitting presided over by Justice Angela Ataluka has refused and rejected the petitioners oral application for leave to tender additional results of thirty two polling units which was not listed earlier in the petition.
Justice Ataluka ruled that the petitioners ought to be consistent in presenting their case before the tribunal in accordance with the provision of first schedule of the electoral act twenty twenty two as amended.
The Court held that the reply filed by the petitioners ought to have been accompanied by witnesses on Orth in line with the provision.
When presented, the INEC lead counsel
Tunde Babalola (SAN), vehemently objected to the application of the petitioners which he described as strange.
Explaining further to correspondence, one of the INEC counsel, Mister E.O Egbonodje Esq said that the tribunal ruling is actually premise on fair hearing because the respondent wouldn’t have the right to react to same which was not listed in the first petition as provided in the electoral act.
The second and third respondents counsel also objected to the said application of the petitioners, noting that the petitioners reply to the first respondent reply and notice of preliminary objection.
Justice Angela Ataluka however refused the application and adjourned to sixth June, twenty twenty three for the first and second respondents to put their respective defense.
