The All Progressives Congress (APC) is expected to open its defence at the 2019 Election Petition tribunal sitting in Katsina State.
Senator Yakubu Lado and his party the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had approached the Tribunal challenging the outcome of the election where Governor Aminu Masari was declared winner.
But Senator Lado and the PDP have completed their presentation at the tribunal on Wednesday evening.
Earlier, the petitioners had tendered various forms of evidences before the Tribunal to buttress their cases, including voters’ registers for the state’s 34 local government areas as well as Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D and EC8E, were tendered before the tribunal for inspection.
Lead counsel to the petitioners, Goddy Uche, told the tribunal on Wednesday that his client and his party had submitted all the required items before the tribunal.
The duo of Senator Lado and his party the PDP had earlier called witnesses to testify before the tribunal on how the gubernatorial elections were conducted across Katsina State.
But attempts to call additional witnesses by Senator Lado and the PDP were unsuccessful as the tribunal dismissed the application, seeking for the request on Thursday.
The tribunal through a ruling delivered by Justice E.B. Omotosho, described the application as an abuse of court process.
The tribunal thereafter requested the lead counsel to the first respondent (Governor Masari) in the petition, Tunde Busari, to commence Governor Masari’s defence Thursday
The tribunal chairman, Hajiya Hadiza Ali-Jos stated that “Since the petitioners in this case had completed their case today (Wednesday), the first respondent (should commence his defence tomorrow”(Thursday).
Senator Lado and PDP had petitioned the tribunal challenging the outcome of the March,9 election. They are also challenging Governor Masari’s educational qualification to contest in the election.
Governor Masari, the APC and the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) are respondents in the petition.
