2023 Election: Adamawa Tribunal fixes July 21 for ruling in SDP guber candidate’s petition

From Umar Dankano,Yola.

The Adamawa state Governorship Election Tribunal has fixed July 21, 2023 for final ruling in a case filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Gubernatorial Candidate, Dr. Umar Ardo, seeking the cancellation of the election.
At a resumed hearing in Yola despite non appearance of the three(3) major witnesses earlier subpoenaed by it (Tribunal), arguments of legal representation of both petitioner and respondents were heard
Ardo approached the Tribunal seeking for the cancellation of the 2023 Gubernatorial polls based on a number of issues including alleged violence and substantial non compliance with election regulations in the state.
Similarly Ardo,the SDP candidate urges INEC to expunge APC, PDP from race, conduct fresh polls in Adamawa due to alleged violation of electoral guiding principles laid down in the electoral Act 2022.
Earlier during hearing at the Tribunal on Thursday in Yola lead counsel to the INEC Abdul Ibrahim (SAN) told the court that, the subpoenas sent to suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner, (REC), Barristar Hudu Yunus Ari should have been personally served to him not lNEC on account of his suspension by the election umpire.
Ibrahim therefore urges the court to discountenance the positions of the petitioners on the grounds that the electoral body has conducted a credible polls.
But, in a counter argument, the lead counsel to Dr Umar Ardo and others Sylvester Imhanobe(SAN) argued that Hudu was only suspended and until INEC made a clear statement on his sack, he still remain a bonafide staff of the electoral commission.
Imhanobe noted that, based on incontrovertible and documented evidences occasioned by some actions of INEC including suspending the 18th March polls and the legal actions it took against the suspended INEC REC, a case of impropriety has been established.
Imhanobe added that it was based on such incontrovertible evidences that the court admitted the INEC documents brought before the tribunal.
However, in his ruling after taking notes from both counsels for INEC and Ardo, the Tribunal Judge,Hon Justice Theodora Obi Uluru adjoined the case to 21 July 20 23 for adoption and final judgement in the case.
It could be recalled that last week, the election petition tribunal has subpoenaed suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa State, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, a national commissioner of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Abdullahi Zuru and an official of the Department of Secret Security Service (DSS), Halilu Suleiman to testify on the conduct of the 2023 governorship election.