The United Progressives Party (UPP) national secretary, Sadeeq Ibrahim Masallah, testified against the party’s senatorial candidate over logo commission for the 2019 Plateau North senatorial district election.
He testified as defence witness before national assembly election tribunal sitting in Jos as led by the first respondent’s counsel, Harrison Uguala.
The petitioner, Sanusi Muhammad Inuwa, is challenging Senator Istifanus Gyang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for omitting his name and party logo from the ballot paper in the election.
Masallah said form CF002C nominating Sanusi Muhammad Inuwa as senatorial candidate for Plateau South senatorial district was endorsed and forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), headquarters Abuja.
“I and my national chairman personally signed form CF002C in respect of Sanusi Muhammad Inuwa and submitted same to INEC”, he said.
Masallah said all their candidates filled their forms by themselves and the party forwarded same to INEC.
Under cross examination by the petitioners’ counsel, M.A.Tauwa, he there was no space for candidates to signed the form.
According to him the administrative officer of the party processed all forms and made them to sign.
However, the petitioner, Sanusi Muhammad Inuwa, had told the tribunal that he only filled form CF001 where he provided his details but that he wasn’t aware of any form CF002C.
“I filled form CF002C, send to the party, and I was told by my national secretary that they have forwarded my name to INEC as candidate for the Plateau North senatorial district,” he said.
The candidate also tendered two letters one written on 21st January, 2019, another on 19th February, 2019, and complaint about his wrongful exclusion of name from the Northern Senatorial district, to INEC.
