Nasarawa Guber:INEC Presents More Documents as APC Closes Defence

Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday presented more documents used in the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Nasarawa State before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lafia.

The INEC Head of Operations in the state presented the documents when he appeared before the tribunal.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, Counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mathew Burkah (SAN), told the tribunal that they have caused a subpoena to be issued on one Gyang Dabung who was said to have certified a certificate to PDP.

He further told the tribunal that the subpoena was taken to the INEC Headquarters in Abuja on August 29, 2023 but the Commission’s Secretary refused to accept the subpoena, adding that they have filed two processes which were the third respondent’s schedule of witnesses and schedule of documents dated August 30, 2023.

However, the PDP lead counsel, Jibrin Samuel Okutepa (SAN), confirmed that they were served with the third respondent’s schedule of documents and witnesses.

But Okutekpa added that they were not aware of subpoena issued on one Gyang Dabung, a staff of INEC, insisting that a copy of the subpoena should be given to them to enable them respond appropriately.

Mathew Burkah (SAN) for APC sought to tender a copy of the subpoena served on the Head of Operations of Lafia INEC office, original copy of ID card, an application that was not objected by Counsel to INEC Ishaka Muddie Dikko (SAN) and Dr Mubarak Adekilekun for Governor Abdullahi Sule.

But the PDP lead counsel, Jibrin Samuel Okutepa (SAN) objected to the admissibility of the documents.

However, chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, granted the application and marked the documents as exhibits.

But Burkah added that they issued a subpoena witness statement dated August 28, 2023 on the Head of Operations, Lafia INEC office to produce some documents.

Appearing before the tribunal, the Lafia INEC Head of Operations, represented by a Senior Administrative Officer, Muhammad Yahaya Bello, told the tribunal that they were subpoenaed to present some documents used in the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Nasarawa State for 62 Polling Units.

Muhammad, however, told the tribunal that they could not produce form EC8 A for some Polling Units in Keana LGA, which are GSS Aloshi, Keana Primary School Polling Unit and Angugi Agyala Polling Unit, Ara 2 Polling Unit in Nasarawa LGA, and Shege 1 Polling Unit in Toto LGA, adding that they do not have form EC8 B in Akwanga LGA .

Consequently, the APC counsel,  Burkah (SAN) sought to tender all the documents in support of their defense, an application that the first and second respondent’s counsel did not object to.

But the Petitioners’ lead counsel, Okutepa, objected the admissibility of the documents.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, however, granted the application and marked the documents as exhibits.

Meanwhile,  Ajayi,  yesterday adjourned hearing to September 14, 2023 for all counsel to adopt their final written addresses.

The adjournment was sequel to the review of documents and witnesses presented before the tribunal as carried out by the APC counsel, Burkah (SAN), who said: “having reviewed the documents and witnesses presented before the tribunal, we decided to apply to close their defence.”