Abuja – The Kogi Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Monday adjourned to May 13 for the adoption of written addresses from the parties in the petition brought by Capt. Idris Wada.
Wada was the immediate past governor of the state and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the election.
The tribunal also adjourned for judgment in the petition filed by Labour Party (LP) after the party’s Counsel, Reuben Egwuaba and the All Progressives Congress (APC) counsel, Akinlolu Olujimi, SAN, had informed the tribunal that they had filed their final written addresses
The Tribunal Chairman, Justice Halima Mohammed, said that the date for the judgment in the Labour Party petition would be communicated to the parties at a later date.
Earlier, at the resumed hearing, APC failed to produce any witness as expected when it opened its case.
Olujimi said that the party did not want to bother the tribunal with extra witnesses since Gov. Yahaya Bello had already produced some witnesses to defend himself and the party.
“It is our wish not to bother this tribunal with extra evidences. Therefore, we will be closing our case,’’ Olujimi said.
Mr Alex Izinyon, SAN, Counsel to INEC, also informed the tribunal that he was tendering the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the report and result of the APC governorship primaries along with the receipt certification.
Also, Mr Abdullahi Aliyu, SAN, Counsel to Bello informed the tribunal that he aligned himself with the submission of Olujimi and Izinyon, adding that he had no objection to the document tendered by the INEC counsel.
Aliyu further urged the tribunal to disallow the issues for determination in the petition, particularly the issue three which pointed out that
Bello had no associate as a running mate for the office of the governor during the election.
According to Aliyu, the matter had already been raised by the petitioner under the issue of qualification in the entire petition.
Wada had filed a petition against the APC for the role it played in the election of Bello in which he joined INEC.
He is asking the tribunal to declare him the governor, since he placed second in the first Kogi Governorship Election declared inconclusive, following the death of Prince Abubakar Audu, the APC candidate.
He is also asking the tribunal alternatively, to declare the election of Bello illegal and conduct a fresh election, citing a violation of the electoral law.
Earlier, Mr Chris Uche, SAN, Counsel for the petitioner, had urged the tribunal to consider issue three among the issues for determination before the tribunal.
Uche also sought the tribunal order to allow them argue issue three out of the entire issues for determination filed before the tribunal by the petitioner.
He insisted that issue three which relates to Bello not having a running mate violates the electoral law.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Kogi Governorship Election was held twice on Nov. 21, 2015 and Dec. 5, 2015, respectively. (NAN)