The Kogi Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has reserved
judgment in the petition filed by Prince Abubakar Audu of Action Con
gress of Nigeria (ACN) in the December 3, last year’s governorship
election.
The tribunal Chairman, Justice Suleiman Ambursa, who made this known
in Lokoja yesterday, said the date would be communicated to the parties.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the judge reserved the date
after hearing the submission and adoption of written addresses by
counsel to the petitioners and respondents.
Audu, who is challenging the return of Capt. Idris Wada as the winner
of the election by INEC, alleged falsification of results and
malpractice among other allegations.
Earlier, the counsel to Wada, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, a senior advocate of
Nigeria (SAN), described the petition as needless, saying that he was
confident it would fail.
He said that the petition had no foundation and urged the tribunal to dismiss it.
In his submission, the counsel to the PDP, Mr Chris Uche (SAN), urged
the tribunal to strike out the petition, describing it as a “fruitless
adventure.”
According to him, the petitioners are merely attacking the outcome of
the election but they failed to prove their case beyond reasonable
doubt.
The counsel to INEC, Malam Yusuf Ali (SAN), aligned himself with the
submissions of Uche and Fagbemi, saying that the petition lacked merit
because it was unsigned and undated.
However, the counsel to the petitioner, Mr Charles Edosomwan (SAN),
urged the tribunal to weigh the volume of evidence before it and do
justice in the matter.
He said that there was no doubt that his client won the election and
had proved that they won the Kogi governorship polls of December 3.
The counsel said that they presented 88 witnesses, who testified in their favour.
NAN reports that Audu among other prayers urged the tribunal to
declare him winner of the election having scored the highest number of
the lawful votes cast during the election.
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