Against its initial submission before the Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on Monday close her case without recourse to its witnesses.
NNPP and its candidate Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf (2st and 3nd) respondents respectively, who are defending the victory of the 18th March governorship election against the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano had informed the tribunal of evidence from 450 witnesses before the court.
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC (1st respondent) and Abba Kabiru Yusuf (2nd) who presented their cases also did not call any witnesses.
The petitioner (APC) is challenging INEC for declaring Abba Kabir-Yusuf of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) the winner of the election that was conducted on March 18, 2023. APC is also querying the qualification and membership status of Governor Yusuf in the NNPP, insisting the second respondent was not duly registered.
At the resumed sitting on Monday, counsel to NNPP, Tijjani Yahaya, informed the tribunal that following a careful review of evidence that has so far been laid by the petitioner’s witnesses, the 3rd respondent deemed it necessary to jettison its witnesses.
Although, the lead counsel to the petitioner Professor Sam Erugo (SAN) did not object to the respondent decision, one of the senior lawyers of the petitioner and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kano state, Abdullahi M. Lawal insisted that the inability of the respondents to present more than one witness is an evidence of defeat.
Lawal told journalists that the petitioner has substantiated her petition with 32 credible witnesses to prove the authenticity of its case.
At the closed of the case, the three members panel led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, ordered all parties to file their written addresses on or before 15th August and adjourned the case to 21 August for adoption of final written address.
