BASSA/JOS NORTH BY-ELECTION: PETITIONERS URGE TRIBUNAL TO ALLOW ITS PETITION, AS IT ADJOURNS FOR JUDGMENT

By: Valentine Adese (JP),

The Petition No: EPT/PL/NA/01/2022, filed by, Adamu Muhammed Alkali and his party, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), challenging the By-Election for Member, Federal House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency, held on the 26^th of February, 2022, has been adjourned for Judgment by the Tribunal which heard the matter.

THE PETITIONERS

Respondents to the Petition are the PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) (as 1^st Respondent), MUSA AGAH AVIA (as 2^nd Respondent) and the INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC),  (as 3^rd Respondent).

LAWYERS IN COURT

Before the adjournment, Counsels in the matter, adopted each of their Final Written Addresses in the matter.

R-L: Yakubu A.H. Ruba (SAN), AND M.S. Salihu Esq,

While the Petitioners’ Counsel, Yakubu A.H. Ruba  (SAN),  leading, M.S. Salihu Esq, A.S Umar Esq, among other Lawyers, adopted the Final Written Address of the Petitioners, S. G. Odey Esq, leading, S. Oyawole Esq, among other Lawyers, adopted that of the 1^st and 2^nd Respondents and Attah Esq, adopted for the 3^rd Respondent (INEC).

S. G. ODEY ESQ

In his adopting and adumbration, the Petitioners’ Counsel, Yakubu A.H. Ruba  (SAN) urged the Tribunal to discountenance the entire submissions of the Respondents and uphold substantial Justice by entering judgment for the Petitioners and grant all the reliefs sought.

LAWYERS IN COURT

“We accordingly urge my Lords to allow the Petition as prayed”. He added.

You would recall that, the Petitioners, Adamu Muhammed Alkali and his party, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), had formulated, 3 issues for determination founded on the 3 grounds of the petition.

In the Petitioners’ Final Written Address, they stated that:

“Having carefully scrutinized the evidence before this Honourable Tribunal, both oral and documentary, the Petitioners have crafted three issues for determination, founded on the three grounds of this Petition, to wit:

“Having regards to Exhibit P9 (a), (b), (c) & (d), Section 65(2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN), 1999 (As Amended)and Section 101(e) of the Electoral Act, 2022, whether the 2^nd Respondent was at the time of the Bye-Election, qualified to contest for the office of Member, House of Representatives, Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency which was held on the 26^th day of the February, 2022.

“Whether or not the Bye-Election for the office of Member, House of Representatives in Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency held on the 26th February, 2022 can be said to have substantially complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and its accompanying legislations.

“Whether the 1st and 2nd Respondents were duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the Bye-Election for the office of ember, House of Representatives in Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency held on the 26th February, 2022”.

TO BE CONTINUED….