The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Bauchi has reserved judgement on the petition challenging the reelection of Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed as the governor and his deputy, Mohammed Auwal Jatau.
LEADERSHIP Friday reports that the petition was filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 18th election, Ambassador Saddique Baba Abubakar.
The tribunal during its sitting said that it would communicate a date to deliver its judgement to the parties after counsels adopted their final written addresses.
INEC is the first respondent in the petition, while Governor Bala Mohammed and his deputy, Hon Jatau are listed as the second and third respondents accordingly.
In his submission, counsel to the respondents, Chris Uche, SAN urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by the petitioners on the basis that the petitioners failed to prove the allegations contained in their petition.
He argued that the March 18th, 2023 governorship election held in Bauchi State was conducted substantially in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
He further stated that the claim made by the petitioners in their petition has not been proved by their witnesses called – PW2, 4,5,8,9, and 10. Therefore, he urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition.
He further argued that the petitioners failed to prove the allegations against the victory of Governor Bala at the March 18, 2023 gubernatorial election.
However, the lead counsel to the petitioners, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, in his submission in adopting the final written address, argued that what determines the failure or success of a case is pleadings and evidence laid before a tribunal.
He cited section 73 sub-section 2 of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended arguing that the purported election in those areas raised in their petition should be declared invalid.
He also opined that if those votes will be deducted, the petitioner, Sadique Abubakar will score 252,022 votes while the Respondent Bala Mohamed will score 246,522 votes stressing that the election was marred by irregularities. He finally urged the tribunal to allow the petition.
LEADERSHIP Friday reports that the sitting of the tribunal was held under tight security, which, despite measures put in place to reduce the number of people on the court premises, the crowd overpowered them and gained access to the premises.
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