Kaduna governorship election: PDP submits voter registers, INEC forms to tribunal

The Kaduna State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Isa Ashiru, tendered exhibits to the State Election Petition Tribunal on Tuesday.

The three-man panel of the tribunal, headed by Justice Victor Oviawie, admitted INEC forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E and EC40G series from various polling units and some local government areas of the state as exhibits tendered by Oluwole Iyamu, a leading counsel to the petitioners.

While presenting the exhibits to the court, another of the leading counsel to PDP and its candidate, Dr. Ayodele Adewole, also submitted voter register sheets for 40 polling units from Kaduna South Local Government as parts of their exhibits to the court.

The PDP counsel submitted exhibits from Giwa, Chikun, Igabi, Kachia, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Kagarko, Kubau, Kudan, Lere, Sabon-Gari and Zaria local government areas to the tribunal. All the submissions were admitted as exhibits.

Earlier, counsels to the 1st (INEC), 2nd (Uba Sani) and 3rd (APC) respondents argued that the petitioner’s counsels had breached the court order, which instructed that all parties (counsels) should meet for the uptaking of exhibits before they were presented to the court

In his argument, the counsel to the 3rd respondent, Muh’d Sani Katu, who sought adjournment of the case, explained that the order of the court was that all counsels should meet for sorting and marking of the exhibits for orderliness.

He further explained, “We can not proceed as it stands, this is because the order is not been complied with.”

In his defence, the lead counsel to both the PDP and Ashiru, Oluwole Iyamu objected and explained that they (counsels to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respondents) were given the opportunity for sorting, marking and studying the said exhibits before today’s sitting but failed to show up as ordered by the court.

“The court registrar can attest to the fact that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents’ counsels were given the opportunity, and several efforts were made for them to come for the sorting and marking of the exhibits but, they declined,” PDP lead counsel explained.

Upon considering the submissions of the counsel, the court ruled that all exhibits should be submitted to the court by the petitioner’s counsel.

Also, Iyamu explained to the court that more documents were expected from INEC, which according to him, are part of the exhibits to be tendered.

The case has been adjourned until July 10, 2023, for the continuation of the presentation of exhibits by the petitioners’ counsel.

Kaduna governorship election: PDP submits voter registers, INEC forms to tribunal