On Tuesday, the Kaduna Governorship Election Petition Tribunal received forms EC8A, EC8B, and EC8C from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
These forms pertain to various polling units, wards, and Local Government Areas, specifically in Birnin-Gwari, Igabi, Kaduna North, Kubau, Lere, Sabon-Gari, Zaria, and Kudan.
The tribunal, led by Justice Victor Oviawe, had previously instructed INEC to provide the original copies of these documents, including form EC8D for all 23 Local Government Areas in the state.
This request was made by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and their candidate Hon. Isa Ashiru, who are the petitioners in the case. The PDP’s lead counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, argued that the results from specific polling units in Birnin-Gwari, Igabi, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Kubau, Lere, Sabon-Gari, Zaria, and Kudan were in question and questioned the authenticity of some of the documents provided by INEC.
Iyamu also requested that the original copies of the documents be kept in the court’s custody until witnesses are present in court.
“The idea was for some of these witnesses to identify some discrepancies between the original, the certified copies, and the duplicates that were given at the time of the election,” he said.
But counsel to INEC, Abdullahi Aliyu, SAN, objected arguing that for the original documents to remain under the custody of the court for more than 24 hours would amount to a breach of the law as provided by the electoral act.
The counsel to 1st (INEC), 2nd (Uba Sani), and 3rd (APC), in their submissions, equally argued that since the documents requested to be presented at the court by the INEC was a public document, hence the need for all parties involved to have the certified copies of the documents before presenting it to the tribunal.
They also, however, the counsels also objected to the admissibility of some of the exhibits presented to the tribunal by PDP and Ashiru’s counsel in nine wards spanning from Giwa to Lere LGAs.
Fielding questions from journalists shortly after the court proceedings, the counsel to incumbent Governor Uba Sani, Chief Duro Adeyele said, “Our ultimate prayer is that the petition be dismissed, and that is what we are here for.
“The reason for that is what we are going to present in our defense, and that is not for the press.”
After considering the submissions of both counsels by Justice Victor Oviawe led panel, the case has been adjourned till 12th July 2023 for the continuation cross-examination of the INEC witness.
