The Borno state National and state Houses of Assembly elections petition tribunal Tuesday reserve judgment in a suit challenging the election of Senator Mohammed Ndume.
Malam Kudla Satumari and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on March 15, filed a petition with number EPT/BO/SEN/1/2019 before the tribunal.
They are challenging the declaration of Ndume of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as winner of the Borno South Senatorial District conducted on February 23, 2019. APC and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were also joined in the suit.
Justice Peter Kekemeke, the chairman of the tribunal, who adjourned for judgment after parties adopted three final written addresses, added that parties would be communicated appropriately.
Mr Marcel Oru, counsel for Ndume, submitted that it was of no use to allow the tribunal to go through the voluminous documents brought by the petitioners.
He said that the tribunal is not here to investigate but to adjudicate and no matter how beautiful a final address, it cannot stand without evidence and therefore urged the tribunal to discountence the petition.
Counsel for APC, Mr Yusuf Ali, who urged the tribunal to give the petition a decent burial, said out of the 1,305 polling units in the district, the petitioners were challenging 119 units if the results of 119 units were given to them would not poll the desired number of votes.
He said out of the 14 witnesses called none was a polling unit agent none was present at the polling unit and only based their evidence on second hand information.
Ali, therefore urged the tribunal to discountenance the petitioners’ petition. Counsel for INEC Oluwafemi Ademola adopted their final written addresses also.
Mr Phillip Kyelek in his submission urged the tribunal to examine and evaluate the exhibits before it and pass the judgment in the favour of the petitioners.
He said all the issues raised by the Respondents were answered in the final address.
Similarly, the petition filed by Mohammed Abdullahi and PDP challenging the election of Aji Kolo Khadi of APC into the State House of Assembly representing, Jere Local Government was also taken.
Parties adopted their final written addresses and judgment also was reserved. (NAN )
