PDP Files Fresh Petitions against Ganduje

The Kano State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abba Kabiru Yusuf, on Thursday filed a fresh motion on notice before the Election Petition Tribunal for the withdrawal of two applications slammed against the state Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The motions on notice earlier challenged some paragraphs in some sections of Ganduje's response to PDP petitions already before Justice Halima S. Mohammad-led tribunal.

Appearing at the opening of the tribunal's pre-hearing, the lead counsel to Abba Kabir, Gboyege Awomoolo (SAN) said the withdrawal was necessary after due consideration.

Gboyega said the action was adopted for accelerated proceedings while enabling the respondents tidy up their responses accordingly.

The counsel to the PDP gubernatorial candidate had earlier filed additional two motion on notice, urging the court to ignore application of technicalities being fronted by the defendants just as they demanded the opposing parties to open their defence.

However, the coordinator of Ganduje tribunal legal team, Mohammad A. Lawan, who expressed indifferent on the decision of the PDP's motion withdrawal, insisted that PDP was aware the applications lack merit and amount to waste of time before the tribunal.

The lead counsel to Ganduje, Aliyu Umar (SAN), had applied fresh motion on notice, asking the court to strike out PDP's petition in entity for lack of merit.

Meanwhile, counsel to first defendant, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had filed preliminary objection on contempt proceeding, asking the tribunal to vacate the criminal charge against Kano Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor Shehu Arabi, initiated by PDP through form 48 and 49.

The PDP is challenging the INEC boss in the state to explain why he should not be committed to prison for ignoring court order which granted the opposition permission to inspect electoral materials.

In his ruling, Justice Mohammad adopted all applications and motions filed by the petitioner and respondents and adjourned to July 13, 2019, for ruling on the applications.