Bauchi Guber: Appeal Court Begins Hearing On Petition Against PDP

The Court of Appeal sitting in Jos,Plateau state, has adjourned for judgement the appeal of the Bauchi election petition brought before it by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the last gubernatorial election, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar.

Ekohotblog recalled that the Election Petition Tribunal had on 7th October, 2019 dismissed the petition of the APC and its candidate in the election and affirmed the victory of Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir as the duly elected Governor of Bauchi State, a judgement that was appealed.

According to the Lead Counsel to the APC and the defeated candidate, Hassan Liman, their main ground of appeal was over-voting recorded during the conduct of the election which gave victory to the PDP and its candidate, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir.

The Lead Counsel, therefore, urged the Appeal Court to dismiss the judgement of the trial tribunal and declare his client winner of the election or at most order for a fresh election.

In their respective replies, the Lead Counsel to the PDP, Chris Uche, Lead Counsel to INEC, Illo Sunusi and the Lead Counsel to PDP, Ibrahim Isiyaku all submitted that the issue of over-voting as claimed by the appellant does not hold water as all the witnesses they called during the trial at Tribunal agreed that there was no over voting as claimed.

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Chris Uche and his colleagues, therefore, urged the Appeal Court to dismiss the appeal for lack of merit and affirm the judgement of the trial Tribunal which was in their favour.

After listening to the submissions of all the parties, the five members Appeal Court adjourned for judgement saying that the date will be communicated to the parties.

Reacting to the development, Bauchi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr Ladan Salihu said that “the presence of the large convoy of supporters from all the LGAs in the state is an affirmation of the support of the entire citizens of the state for Governor Bala Mohammed.”