Yakubu Busari, Jos
The National Secretary of United Progressive Party (UPP), Alh Sadeeq Ibrahim Masallah, has testified against his own party candidate at the Plateau State National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos, Plateau State.
In a suit filed by Sanusi Muhammad Inuwa, of the UPP, with No. EPT/PL/NA/01/2019, challenging the election of Senator Istifanus Gyang of the People Democratic Party, PDP and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over omission of his party logo in the 2019 General election, Masallah said names of candidate s were substituted arbitrarily.
During his cross -examination, Massalah while answering questions from the 3rd Respondent counsel, Barr. Desmond Nyama, testified that in the form CF002C, the party changed the name of the initial candidate who was nominated, endorsed to contest the Plateau North Senatorial District and forwarded the substituted name to INEC headquarters Abuja. So Sanusi Muhammad Inuwa who filed the suit was not the true candidate of the party
He said: “I and my National chairman, personally didn’t sign form CF002C, in respect of Sanusi Muhammad Inuwa, as submitted to INEC, but we later reversed it as so in the cause of speaking with Barr Harrison Uguala on oath.”
Masallah said all their candidates of the party were filled their form CF 001 but the Form CF001C1, which was signed only by the admin of UPP was not given to them before it was forwarded same to INEC.
He however said under cross- examination by petitioners counsel, that there was no space for candidates to sign the form.
According to him the administrative officer of the party processed all forms and made them to sign.
Counsel to the petitioner, M.A. Tauwa, told the tribunal that after the pre-hearing session, which the tribunal Chairman N.T Ezeogwu read to the hearing of all of counsels, he tendered the seven (7) documents dealing with report of the UPP primaries that was conducted on the October 7, 2018 at Yelwa Club, Bukuru in Jos South Local Government Council.
\In the petition Inuwa is seeking relief from the tribunal to determine whether he was validly nominated by his party, wither or not the 1st respondent Senator Istifanus Gyang, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was validly elected as returned by INEC, in compliance with the provisions of the electoral act.
He is also seeking for the tribunal to annul the election and order INEC, to conduct fresh election and also include him to participate.
The tribunal chairman, Justice T. N.Nzegwu, adjourned the matter to June 28 for continuation of hearing.
