Kaduna Tribunal Dismisses Uba Sani’s Preliminary Objection On Ashiru’s Petition, Set To Deliver Judgment Via Zoom

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kaduna has dismissed the second preliminary objection filed by Governor Uba Sani and All Progressives Congress (APC) to dismiss the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Isah Mohammed Ashiru.

Sani and the APC, who are the second and Thursday respondents in the case, argued the petitioners had abandoned their petition.

The Tribunal however dismissed the motion.

The Tribunal is delving into determining the main petition.

The PDP is challenging the election of Uba Sani as the Governor of Kaduna State on the grounds of alleged irregularities and electoral fraud, saying that its Candidate (Isa Mohammed Ashiru) won the election.

During the hearing of the petition, the PDP and Ashiru called 24 witnesses and presented claims and documents to prove their case.

However, at the close of hearing, all the parties presented their final written addresses before the Tribunal, with APC’s Uba Sani saying that, the petitioners unwittingly helped in proving that, he won the March 18 governorship election, in the course of challenging his victory.

Uba Sani’s legal team led by a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN, argued that, the petitioners had helped in proving he won the poll fair and square, pointing in particular to the admission of a star witness for the petitioner, Bonett Gwazah, a senior system analyst (SSA) in the VR/ICT Department of INEC in Kaduna State.

In their final address, the PDP and Ashiru argued that, that two conflicting election results emerged from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the governorship election in the state.

Ashiru through his lead counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN argued that INEC is responsible for the manipulation of election results.

He equally alleged over voting and abuse of electoral processes and therefore asked for the reversal of the INEC declaration that produced Governor Uba Sani.

Meanwhile, the tribunal is set to deliver judgement on Ashiru’s substantive petition via Zoom. In his petition, the PDP candidate is challenging Uba Sani’s declaration as winner of the March 11 governorship polls in Kaduna State.

There is heavy security presence at the Kaduna State High Court premises hosting the tribunal. The courtroom has been set up to allow judgement proceedings to be transmitted live on Zoom.

Ashiru and the PDP are seeking nullification of Sani’s election on grounds of alleged irregularities and non-compliance with electoral laws.

Today’s judgement will determine the fate of Governor Sani’s election as declared by INEC. If the tribunal rules in favor of Ashiru, a fresh election may be ordered within 90 days.

The outcome is being awaited with apprehension amidst tight security in Kaduna city. The tribunal’s verdict will impact the current political equation in the state.