The three-man panel headed by Hon. Justice Victor Oviawe admitted the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E, and EC40G series from various polling units and Local Government Areas of the state as exhibits, being tendered by the 1st and 2nd petitioners’ (Ashiru and his party, PDP)lead counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, on Tuesday.
Presenting the exhibits to the court, one of the counsels to the PDP and its candidate, Dr. Ayodele Adewole, SAN, also submitted voters registers sheets for 40 polling units with reference to Kaduna South Local Government as parts of the exhibits.
The PDP counsel submitted exhibits from Giwa, Chikun, Igabi, Kachia, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Kagarko, Kubau, Kudan, Lere, Sabon-Gari, and Zaria respectively.
Earlier, the counsel to the 1st (INEC), 2nd (Uba Sani), and 3rd (APC) respondents, argued that the petitioner’s counsel had breached the court order, which instructed that all parties (counsels) should meet for the uptaking of the exhibits before the presentation.
In his argument, the counsel to the 3rd respondent, Muhammad Sani Katu, SAN, who sought adjournment of the case, explained that the order of the court was that all counsels must meet for sorting and marking of the exhibits for orderliness.
“We can not proceed as it stands. This is because the order is not been complied with,” Katu argued.
In his defence, the lead counsel to both the PDP and Ashiru, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, objected, explaining that they (the counsels to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respondents) were given the opportunity for sorting, marking, and studying the said exhibits before today’s sitting but failed to show up as ordered by the court.
“The court registrar can attest to the fact that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents’ counsels were given the opportunity, and several efforts were made for them to come for the sorting and marking of the exhibits but, they declined,” he added.
Upon considering the submissions of the counsels, the court ruled that all exhibits be submitted to the court by the petitioner’s counsel.
Also, Iyamu, SAN, further told the court that more documents were expected from the INEC, which according to him, are part of the exhibits to be tendered.
The case was adjourned till 10th July 2023 for the continuation of the presentation of exhibits by the petitioners’ counsel.
