Isa Ashiru, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) nominee for governor of Kaduna State in the 2023 election, presented evidence before the State Election Petition Tribunal on Tuesday.
Oluwole Iyamu, a prominent attorney representing the petitioners, submitted INEC forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E, and EC40G series from different polling units and several local government areas of the state as evidence. Judge Victor Oviawie chaired the three-person tribunal panel.
Dr. Ayodele Adewole, another prominent attorney representing the PDP and its candidate, also provided voter registration forms for 40 voting places from the Kaduna South Local Government as part of their evidence before the court.
The PDP’s legal representative provided the tribunal with exhibits from the local governments of Giwa, Chikun, Igabi, Kachia, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Kagarko, Kubau, Kudan, Lere, Sabon-Gari, and Zaria. Every entry was accepted as an exhibit.
Prior to the court ruling, which stated that all parties (counsels) should meet for the uptake of evidence before they were submitted to the court, the counsels for the first (INEC), second (Uba Sani), and third (APC) respondents contended that the petitioner’s counsels had broken the rule.
The third respondent’s attorney, Muh’d Sani Katu, requested delay of the case in his argument. He said the court had ordered all attorneys to gather to sort and label the evidence for orderliness.
“We can not proceed as it is,” he said, “since the injunction has not been followed.”
Oluwole Iyamu, the lead attorney for the PDP and Ashiru, objected to the order and said that the first, second, and third respondents’ attorneys were given a chance to sort, mark, and analyse the relevant evidence prior to today’s hearing but did not comply with the court’s order to appear.
“The first, second, and third respondents’ counsels were given a chance, and repeated attempts were made to get them to appear for the sorting and labelling of the exhibits, but they rejected,” PDP lead counsel said. “The court registrar can speak to that.
The court decided that the petitioner’s attorney shall submit all evidence to the court after carefully weighing the arguments of the counsel.
Iyamu also informed the court that other papers from INEC, which he said were exhibits to be submitted, were anticipated.
The case has been postponed until July 10, 2023, so the petitioners’ attorney may continue presenting materials.
