Mangu North Tribunal Sets For Adoption Of Final Written Addresses, As 1st,2nd & 3rd Respondents Opened And Closed
Yakubu Busari
The Independent National Electoral Commission,(INEC) the first respondent in a case filed by Hon. Adamu Abdul Yanga and his party the All Progressives Congress,(APC) challenging the landslide victory of Hon. Abubakar Sani Idris of the People Democratic Party (PDP) has been adjourned to 21st August, 2023 for the adoption of the final written address.
The matter was adjourned for INEC, to open defense but the counsel I.B.Dickson,Esq, told the trial tribunal that they were not going to present any witnesses but they’ve some vital documents to tender through the bar as indicated in the scheduled subject to the convenience of the tribunal.
As he sought to tender the appropriate documents was accomplished by the application for tendering of amendment of page 22 to effect it as 21, the trial tribunal admitted the documents and marked them as exhibits 1R1,1R2 documents where the 1st respondent closed their case.
However, the second and third respondents have opened their cases and said they’ve two witnesses, but only one is present in court.
Mr Panshak Elijah Dakyen as PW1 whose statement on oaths was on pages 59 to 84 was a legal practitioner residence in Jos and deputy legal advice to the 3rd respondent in the Plateau State chapter of PDP .
The counsel to the 2nd & 3rd respondents’ referred PW1, Dakyen to exhibits 2.1,2.4 dated 2nd Day of May 2023. Which he seeks to tender and adopted as part of oral evidence before the trial tribunal. Also, the next exhibits were 2R1,2R4 witness statements on oaths tendered.
The 1st respondent, INEC, during the cross-examination on page 83 paragraph 8p was a reference to exhibits 2R3 & 2R4 paragraphs 8j and 8k confirmed 1R1 of paragraph 24 e page 65 witness made reference to the comprehensive reports of INEC which was Congresses conducted by PDP and monitored at landfield . Paragraph 26e by that report shows that the 3rd respondent has complied with the order of Justice Arum Ashom’s judgment , yes .24 a between Bitrus Kaze and 16 orders.
He explained that the 3rd respondent contested the election and was declared the winner by the 1st respondent in exhibits 1R11 is the correct result where the 2nd respondent scored 24,275 , the PDP that the petitioner and his party scored 9,396 with different 14,879 gaps by exhibits 2R3 shown that they have complied to the order.
S.S.Obende on cross-examination as the lead counsel says that I am correct to say that your local government area of origin is Pankshin,”yes”.I would be wrong to ascribe to you if the local government is ascribed you ,” answers no you be wrong “.
Obende requested exhibits P6,P7,P8, and page 26 please confirm that the last paragraph 1 was an appeal judgment dated 5th February 2023 and also confirm that on page 22, the court said we have brought introduced any evidence that it has complied to the 3rd respondent including page 30 exhibits Pankshin South bye-election.
Exhibit P3 as ruling in an application filed by PDP judgment by Justice Ashom based filed page 3 of that documents in paragraph 3 of page 3 that PDP didn’t participate in the National convention, but Dakyen told the trial tribunal that not all but the statutory members participated at the National convention.
The paragraph demonstrated that the application of the wards delegates, and LGAs Chairmen were in few councils because on page 2 of the list, the committee members were not attached to the documents nor that of the wards and LGs delegates.
He disclosed that page 2 shows that 12 local governments were alleged to be excluded, but Dakyen debunked that the Exco was excluded, but the statutory members were included only Kanke wards are affected.
