Tribunal reserves judgment on Nasarawa governorship dispute

The tribunal hearing the lawsuit challenging the results of the 2023 gubernatorial election in Nasarawa State has reserved decision.

The PDP’s David Ombugadu is reportedly contesting the APC’s announcement of Governor Abdullahi Sule as the winner of the 2023 governorship election.

Counsel for the petitioner and the first, second, and third respondents were scheduled to submit their closing written addresses during Thursday’s scheduled hearing.

After the petitioner’s and the respondents’ attorneys adopted their last written addresses, the panel’s chairman, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, reserved judgment.

Justice Ajayi stated that the tribunal would notify the parties and their attorneys of the judgment date.

Before the tribunal, petitioner’s lead counsel Kanu Agabi (SAN) said he agreed with all the points made in the written address.

The petitioner’s attorney requested that the tribunal proclaim the PDP candidate the true winner of the governorship election in Nasarawa State due to the election’s lack of conformity with the Electoral Act.

In addition, Agabi clarified that the IREV votes had no bearing on the official tally.

Counsel for the petitioner claimed that the PDP candidate received the most votes in the election, citing data from the IREV and the BVAS machines utilized at different polling locations.

Mr Isiaka Dikko (SAN), Mr Hassan Liman (SAN), and Mr Wole Olanikpekun (SAN), counsels for INEC, APC, and Governor Sule, respectively, adopted their final written addresses and urged the tribunal to dismiss the case for lack of merit.

Olanikpekun, counsel for the APC, stated that the petitioner had dumped BVAS computers and IREV documents without revealing their contents.

Olanipekun said that the petitioner didn’t show the court the records outside of the IREV and BVAS machines when he appeared before the court.

So, he argued, the petitioner had no evidence to support their case, and the tribunal should throw it out. (NAN).