The Kaduna Governorship Election Petition Tribunal denied two preliminary objections submitted by Governor Uba Sani and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to dismiss the petition brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Isah Mohammed Ashiru.
First, the tribunal dismissed Uba Sani’s preliminary objection on the petition’s timeliness made by the PDP and Ashiru.
Sani’s legal team stated that the petitioners’ petition was filed after the law’s 21-day deadline.
The petition was submitted on April 10, 2023, according to the court.
As a result, the three-member panel chaired by Justice Victor Oviawe dismissed the petition of Governor Uba Sani, the case’s second respondent.
The respondents asserted in their second preliminary objection that the petitioners had abandoned their petition. However, the Tribunal denied the motion.
The Tribunal is currently diving into the main petition.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is contesting Uba Sani’s election as Governor of Kaduna State on the grounds of alleged irregularities and electoral fraud, claiming that its candidate (Isa Mohammed Ashiru) won the election.
The PDP and Ashiru called 24 witnesses and provided allegations and documents to substantiate their case during the petition hearing.
However, at the conclusion of the hearing, all parties gave their final written addresses to the Tribunal, with APC’s Uba Sani claiming that the petitioners unknowingly assisted in showing that he won the March 18 governorship election while opposing his victory.
Uba Sani’s legal team, led by former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN, argued that the petitioners aided in proving he won the election fairly and squarely, citing the admission of a key witness for the petitioner, Bonett Gwazah, a senior system analyst (SSA) in INEC’s VR/ICT Department in Kaduna State.
The PDP and Ashiru stated in their final presentation that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) produced two contradicting election results for the state’s governorship race.
Ashiru, through his main counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, claimed that INEC was involved for election results tampering.
He also charged voter fraud and misuse of electoral processes, and hence requested that the INEC declaration that produced Governor Uba Sani be reversed. (Adapted from reports in The Nation)