Plateau Governorship Tribunal :Mutfwang Allege Tricks By Nentawe Counsel To Embed  Ground Nominations

Yakubu Busari

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate for the 2023 General Elections,Dr Nentawe Yilwatda has challenged the People Democratic Party (PDP) ,Barr.Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang victory before the tribunal seeking the order court to nullify the exercise for noncompliance to the electoral act.

The petitioner’s counsel, Prof. Kayode Olatoke on Tuesday told the court that the matter was slated to the continuation of prehearing in all pending applications, and the 2nd respondent, Pius A. Akubo just serve them with preliminary objections and a written address against their motion to mend the lists of witnesses.

He stated that the petitioners prayed to this honorable tribunal to grant them five minutes to address it orally instead of taking a date to reply to them on point of law which was extended to three days by the Electoral Act.

Pius Akubo , SAN, emphasized that the petitioners would spring surprises because of the numerous processes petitions have confused them to respond to which one either that of 1st June 2023 .,Prof. kayode Olatoye applied to the two motions of section 1 ,(a) K.E.T (5)  seeking the leave of the court to be replaced with W.K.M which the court admitted and stroke out.

However, the Pre-hearing session continued today During Tuesday’s sitting of the Governorship election petition tribunal in Jos. The tribunal which resumed sitting by noon, took a series of motions and Applications from counsel to all parties involved in the petitions before it.

The sitting of the tribunal was largely characterized by the submission of Applications and motions. Counsel to the petitioner prof –kayode Olatoke  had applied to withdraw two Applications and one motion.

Counsel to Governor Caleb Mutfwang Pius Akubo’SAN’  had filed several motions and preliminary objections to some motions of the petitioner which he urged the court to strike out.

 Counsel to the petitioner prof Kayode Olatoke had also raised objections through counter-affidavits to the preliminary objections and replies of the second respondent’s counsel.

On the issue of abuse of court process, as canvassed by the petitioner’s counsel, Counsel to second respondent Pius Akubo’ SAN’ Quoted sections 285 subsections Five and Eight of the 1999 constitution as amended supported their submissions contrary to the position the petitioners want to tribunal to believe.

He submitted that grounds one and two of portioners ground is anchored on the nomination and sponsorship of Governor Caleb. He further submitted that such is completely a political party affair and nothing More. He Cited the case of Ubabe verses I U September 2023 which stated that the nomination of a candidate is a domestic affair of the party.

He urged the tribunal to dismiss the preliminary objections of the petitioner in their petitioner to that effect.

Pius further submitted that the second respondent has no responsibility whatsoever to move their petition, adding that the petitioners to laid out their cards on the table from the onset with facts and not to lay an ambush.

He urged the tribunal to in essence dismissed the petition of the petitioners. In his reply counsel to the petitioner.