Tribunal sets date for ruling – TheNigerialawyer

The National Assembly Elections Tribunal in Kaduna State has
reserved ruling indefinitely in the petition filed by Shehu Sani
against the election of Uba Sani for Kaduna Central Senatorial
District.

The chairman of the tribunal, A. H Ibrahim, gave the order after
the petitioners and respondents presented their written addresses
on Thursday.

The judge said a date for ruling would be communicated to all
parties in the case.

Earlier, Uba Sani prayed the Tribunal to dismiss the petition
for lacking in substance.

His counsel, Frank Igbe, made the plea at the adoption of his
final written address.

“My Lord, we pray that the case be dismissed as it has no
substance and pray the tribunal to award substantial cost to the
respondent,” Igbe said.

Igbe also prayed the Tribunal to award substantial cost against
the petitioners for abuse of court process.

Uba Sani, the 1st respondent in the petition, was declared the
winner of the February 16 National Assembly election by the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He scored 355,242 votes to defeat Shehu Sani of PRP who polled
70,613 votes.

Shehu Sani is challenging the outcome, saying that the election
was characterised by violence, massive rigging and
ballot-stuffing.

In his submission, Morris Odeh, counsel to Shehu Sani, urged the
tribunal to discountenance the written addresses of the three
respondents and grant his clients’ prayers.

Mr Odeh said Uba Sani and APC did not present a single witness
or evidence before the tribunal throughout its proceedings in the
case.

“We pray the Tribunal to discountenance the written addresses of
the respondents having not had any evidence in the opposition to
the petition.

“We also pray the Tribunal to nullify the election of the 1st
respondent and declare our client, Sani of the PRP as winner in the
February 16 poll.

“Or in the alternative order for fresh election into the Kaduna
Central Senatorial District seat as contained in our petition,” Mr
Odeh said.

(NAN)

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