From Yakubu Busari,Jos
The National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal sitting at State High Court premises came to the peek with the 1st respondent in the suit the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, set to open her defense .
The All Progressive Congress, APC, Rep candidate Hon.Bulus Vincent Venmak closed his case against Hon .Beni Butmak Lar of the People Democratic Party ,(PDP) on Tuesday after calling on two witnesses only .
The petitioners counsel, Edward G.Pwajok, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, told the court that the matter was slated for continuation of hearing and they have some documents to tender in evidence because they have already called two witnesses including a star witness .
However, they decided to streamline their witnesses and amend the scheduled of the petitioners documents of Certified True Copies ,CTC, which the process was tendered in 4 batches .
The 1st respondent ,INEC, also told the court that they’re not objecting to the admissibility of the petitioners documents and the 2nd respondent .Harrison .N .Uguala, either, didn’t object to the admissibility of the petitioners documents.
Uguala urged the petitioners to show the court the listed paragraphs of the two documents sought to be tendered in evidence and after a carefully check the petitioners confirmed that he didn’t list the said documents .
The petitioners withdrew the two documents owning to the fact that it was not front loaded in the list of documents in any of the scheduled paragraphs .
The 1st respondent INEC didn’t have any witness and applied for adjournment to enable them get the necessary documents.
The 1st respondent counsel ,J.K.Zakari explains due to exigencies of the Tribunal they won’t call more than two witness but they would rely on subpoena to present vital information that can help the court in discharging it duty .
The Chairman of the Tribunal ,Justice Tukur Mohammed adjourned hearing to July 18 ,2023 afternoon for all parties to bring along their witnesses in court for accelerated hearing and taking of witnesses .
In the same vein, the Plateau State House of Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Jos Division on the suit between Hon .Nanbol Josiah Gommam of the APC challenging the eligibility and victory of Hon.Nannim Joseph Langyi of the People Democratic Party, PDP, resumed hearing on Wednesday in Jos .
The petitioners counsel ,Barr. A.A. Madaki told the tribunal that the matter was slated for continuation of hearing and they have two motions .
According to the petitioners ,they have filed amended application dated the 8th Day of July, 2023 and filed on the 23rd Day of June 2023 and all parties were served .
He explained further that the petitioners prayed the order of the court to allow to motion scale through .
The 1st respondent INEC, stressed that they were served with the motion just on the July 10 ,2023 and so the applications were not ripe for hearing .
The 2&3 respondents disclosed that they were served on 11/07/2023 by 3:20 pm so they still have enough time to response .
However, the petitioners asked for adjournment to Friday the 15th of July, which was ruled out .
The tribunal adjourned to the 14,15, & 17 of July ,2023 for indefinite hearing.
Further more, the Independent National Electoral Commission( INEC) , on Tuesday opened and closed its defence in Hon.Fom Dalyop Chollom of the Labour Party, LP, petition, challenging the result of the February 25th ,2023 election.
Recall that Hon. Peter Gyangden of the PDP, was declared the winner of the election as Member Representing Riyom /Barkin Ladi Federal constituency at the green chamber for which he has being sworn in and taken an oath of allegiance.
Chollom of the LP is urging the National Election Petition Court in Jos ,the Plateau State Capital to set aside Peter Gyanden’s victory on the grounds that the INEC failed to comply with the electoral laws.
At the resumed proceedings on Tuesday, counsel for INEC, A.A.Madaki , proceeded to close its defence in the petition after saying that he relied on the first and second witnesses to bring their witnesses.
However ,the 2nd respondent counsel, Pius A.Akubo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, opened their defense without a witness but chose to tender the PDP Congress election held on the 25 September, 2021 which the first respondent listed in documents and marked as items 1-6 ,No 6,13,20
Fom Chollom, led in evidence, tendered some documents including exhibits and CTC of the State High Court judgment ,Appeal Court and Federal High courts .
Akubo replied that he won’t tender any documents but would rely on the 3rd respondent to avoid wasting of the Tribunal precious time.
Hon. Justice. Tukur Mohammed ,said that the Tribunal wass constrained to entertain the issue of fundamental right and fair hearing brought by the Second respondent on the 1999 Constitution as amended.
