Tribunal Reserves Judgment In Dachung Moses Dadon Petition Against Dangtong Dalyop

Yakubu Busari

The Plateau State House of Assembly, election petition court has reserved judgment in the petition filed by Hon. Dachung Moses Dadon, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) against Hon .Dalyop Dangtong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Riyom state constituency.

To reserve judgment means to hold the matter in abeyance for a while until a date is fixed for the final verdict.

Dachung Moses is challenging the outcome of the February 25 election and praying the court to nullify Dalyop victory.

Among several issues raised in the joint petition, Dachung and the APC are alleging that Dalyop was not qualified to contest the poll.

They claim that PDP doesn’t have a structure so they can’t sponsor and nominate a candidate for the general elections in Nigeria.

The petitioners also accused INEC of manipulating the poll to favour Dalyop Dangtong .

The petitioners and respondents closed their case after calling witnesses.

The first respondent which is INEC said their response to the petitioners was dated 5/8/2023 where he relied on the written address and prayed and urged the trial tribunal to dismiss the petition for one of merit, he said is wasteful of the judicial notice of time with cost.

Olajide says the first respondent is relying on Bagudu Vs ors 2018.

The 2nd and 3rd respondents filed on 26/07/2023 upon being served with the petitioner’s final written address so many issues of fact were littered out so they decided to file another reply on 6/8/2023 where the council adopted and urged the trial tribunal to dismiss the petitioner’s case for lacking in merit as frivolous.

The petitioner’s reply dated 10/08/2023 was equally adopted and urged the trial tribunal to allow the petitioner’s prayers and grant all reliefs sought

At the resumed session parties in the suit adopted their final addresses which summarise all the evidence tendered before the court.

While adopting his final address, the petitioner’s counsel said the main kernel of the petitioner’s case “is around the non-compliance with the provision of the electoral act”.

“While I agree that the use of technology is to enhance transparency…evidence adduced by the petitioners themselves shows the good intentions of INEC to conduct a credible, free, and fair election to which they sought to deploy credible technology.

“They failed woefully to establish that the glitch on IREV was caused by human interference and that it affected the outcome of the election.”

The petitioners urged the court to uphold their case.

However, Hon Dachung Moses expressed hope in the judiciary as the final place for the common man.

He commended the lead counsel that handle the case their performance is credibly satisfactory with what he saw.

Moses called on the supporters to remain calm as the court or the tribunal shall deliver credible judgment.