by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru Kudan, on Tuesday told the gubernatorial election petition Tribunal that they have assembled no fewer than 25 witnesses to testify against opponents.

Counsel to the petitioners, Samuel Atung (SAN), disclosed this during the proceedings of the pre-hearing phase before the court’s three-panel of justices in Kaduna on Tuesday.

During the proceedings, Atung averred that 23 electoral officers were part of the witnesses to be presented before the court for what he termed as “examination-in-chief, cross-examination, and re-examination.” 

Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Victor Oviawe, after extensive deliberations, allotted seven minutes to examination-in-chief, 12 minutes for cross-examination, while three minutes were allotted to re-examination, respectively.

However, counsels to the 1st respondent, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Alhassan A. Umar (SAN), the 2nd respondent, Gov. Uba Sani, Sunusi Musa (SAN), and that of the 3rd respondent, APC, Muh’d Sani Katu, were at the court, as they all pleaded with the court for the service of interpreters.

The court directed that all interlocutory applications be filed before the close of work on Wednesday, saying that the court is time-bound.

Meanwhile, counsels in the petitions adopted all answers documents filed, just as the court directed the PDP counsel to respond within four days upon service of application by the respondents’ counsels, while two days were allotted to respondents’ counsels to also respond. The court adjourned the case till 15th June, 2023, for hearing of the matter.