The Petitioners, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Hon. David Ombugadu who are challenging the election of Gov Sule had through their Counsel, J. S Okutepa, SAN and J. J USMAN, SAN tendered election documents and voters registers through an INEC Staff, Mohammed Ibrahim.
The Tribunal admitted these documents which show that election took place in the Polling Units which Sule and APC claimed there was no election.
Also, the petitioners had earlier caused subpoenas to be issued and served on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to produce and tender certain documents in support of their petition before the Tribunal.
At the sitting of July 13, 2023, the Petitioners’ legal team was led by J.S. Okutepa SAN and J. J. Usman SAN. The 1st Respondent’s (INEC) team was led by Ishaka M. Dikko SAN, the 2nd Respondent’s (Alhaji Sule Audu) team was led by Adebayo Adelodun SAN while Dr. Hassan Liman led the legal team of the 3rd Respondent (All Progressives Congress).
One of the subpoenas was issued by the Tribunal on the ICT Director INEC/any designated INEC Officer/Staff on 10th July, 2023 summoning INEC to produce and tender documents required for the Petitioners’ case. Pursuant thereto, a representative of the INEC ICT Director produced CTC of BVAS Accreditation report and I-Rev copies of some polling units results (EC8As) which were tendered and marked as exhibits in the trial in line with the schedule of documents filed by the Petitioners.
The hearing continued on Friday, July 14th where another official from INEC, Lafia produced additional documents requested by the Petitioners including CTCs of identified INEC forms EC8As, EC8Bs among which were equally tendered and marked as exhibits by the Tribunal.
The 3rd INEC official who was in the Tribunal pursuant to another subpoena caused to be issued by the Petitioners however told the Tribunal that the outstanding documents requested by the Petitioners were not available. He however indicated that the documents will be made available at a later date.
Meanwhile, the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital has after the Saturday 15th July, 2023 sitting adjourned its next sitting to Tuesday 25th July, 2023 for continuation of hearing after admitting documents from subpoena witnesses during her three days sitting in a stretch.
It would be recalled that, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and it Governorship candidate, Hon. David Emmanuel Ombugadu had challenged the declaration of Alhaji Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the March 18th Governorship election in Nasarawa state at the Tribunal, alleging irregularities, mutilation and inflation of election results in certain Polling Units and electoral wards of some local government areas of the state.
At the hearing of Saturday 15th July, 2023, after the preliminary introductions of appearance, all the counsels pledged their readiness for the business of the day. Therefore, the Petitioners’ lead counsel, J.S Okutepa (SAN) sought the permission of the Tribunal to invite a subpoena witness from INEC National Headquarters Abuja who on appearance at the witness box introduced self as the Deputy Director of Information/Communication Technology (ICT).
At the end of cross Examinations, the Petitioners’ counsel sought for the discharge of the witness from the box. Furthermore, J.S Okutepa (SAN) observed and sought the Tribunal to number Form EC8A code 011 of Ashige Ward, Lafia LGA which was tendered on 24/06/2023 for clarity and equally, pray that the BVAS Machines as stated yesterday be brought by the Nasarawa State INEC subpoena witness on the next adjourned date to facilitate quick dispensation of justice.
Finally, the Chairman of the three Man Governorship Election Petition Panel, Mr. Ezekiel Ajayi graciously adjourned the Tribunal sitting to 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th July, 2023 for continuation of hearing.
