PDP Closes  Defense Sets For Final Written Address Between Fom Chollom, Against Peter Gyanden

Yakubu Busari

The Riyom/Barkin Ladi Federal Constituency Election Tribunal sitting in Plateau State has adjourned for adoption of final written addresses between Hon. Fom  Dalyop Chollom of the Labour Party  (LP) challenging the declaration of the  People Democratic Party (PDP),  as the 3rd respondent, PDP closed their defense on Monday.

The matter was adjourned to the  17th July 2023 for hearing and presentation of witnesses, but however, stood down to 2:30 pm when counsel to the 3rd Respondent PDP Barr D.P Dusu told the tribunal that they are currently handicapped following two subpoenaed witnesses were served to come with vital documents that will assist the 3rd respondent in his case couldn’t be present because one the Appeal court is in court with the CTC documents and Federal High Court was attending to the certification of the documents.

The application which was earlier made by the 3rd Respondent to stand down the matter for him to get the documents involve was however granted for the interest of Justice to enable the subpoenaed Witness to come with the documents, and the court was stood down, 2:30 pm.

When the court resumed hearing by 2:30 pm, the second 3rd respondent told the court that the documents were ready , and pray the tribunal to tender them through the bar in line with the Pre-hearing result, that all the noncontentious documents should be tender through the bar, and the contentious ones be through the witness.

Dusu however tendered the documents through the bar. The list of the documents mainly contained the various court judgments which clear the legal cost for the People Democratic party in the state to conduct congresses and participate in the general election.

The subpoenaed documents were accepted and tendered as Exhibit, marked exhibit 3R4a, 3R4b,3R4c, and 4R4D which is subject to address during final written address.

However, the Petitioner through his Counsel E.G Pwajok vehemently objected to the admissibility of the documents and reserved his objection to the final written address.

Following the tendering of the documents, the Counsel to PDP used the opportunity to tell the tribunal his intention for the closure of their case.

The Petitioner reminded the tribunal of the pre-hearing report, which allocated 7 days to the Respondents,5 days to the Petitioners, and three days for the Petitioner to reply on the point of law.

The court however adjourned the matter to 3rd August 2023 for the adoption of final written address.

Honorable Dalyop Chollom of the LP, party is challenging the declaration of the candidate of PDP as the winner of Riyom /Barkin Ladi Federal Constituency Election on the ground that PDP is not having a structure in the state, that the election which brought the PDP candidate is not only legally wrong, but morally wrong.