The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano presided over by Justice Haleema Shamaki has dismissed a prayer by Abba Kabir Yusuf of PDP seeking to amend the names of his witnesses earlier presented alongside with the petition.
In his submission, the lead counsel to Abba Kabir Yusuf, Asiwaju Adeboyega Owomolo (SAN) said he brought the application to correct some errors made on the names of their witnesses earlier filed on 11th of April, 21019 accompanied with the petition.
Owomolo maintained that his application would not amend or alter the statement of fact but to sustain the ground of their petition. He urged the tribunal to grant the application.
While objecting to the prayer, counsel to respondents; Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Offiong Offiong (SAN) and that of INEC, Ahmad Raji (SAN) pointed out that the prayer to amend the names of the witnesses by the petitioner contravened the Electoral Act, arguing that election petition shall be filed and accompanied with the names, details and oath of the petition.
In her ruling the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Haleema Muhd Shamaki dismissed the application by PDP citing Paragraph 4 and 5 of the schedule of Electoral Act which provides that all election petitions shall be accompanied with the details of the witnesses.
She also stated that petitioner shall file his petition in three weeks after declaration of the result.
She adjourned the sitting to the 22nd of July for the commencement of hearing.
