The Plateau State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos, on Wednesday dismissed attempts by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to block the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from tendering vital documents to defend its case.
The petition is that of the PDP governorship candidate, Senator Gyang Pwajok, who is challenging the victory of Mr Simon Bako Lalong of the APC at the polls because he alleged foul plays in the election.
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In one of the tribunal’s sittings, counsel to the petitioner had pleaded with the tribunal to tender documents for inspection by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to buttress the case. But this was vehemently objected to by the respondent’s (APC) counsel who sensed that allowing the documents to be tendered would jeopardise their case.
The two parties argued their cases citing many legal authorities to drive home their points.
Having listened to all the arguments, the tribunal chairman, Justice Johnson Candide, ruled in favour of the PDP, saying that the tribunal was not convinced by the submissions and argument of the respondent (APC) and accordingly dismissed the objection in favour of the petitioner (PDP).
Candide held that the tribunal should not be seen to have deliberately shut out the petitioner to produce his evidence in the interest of justice irrespective of the fact that the petitioner’s counsel had already closed their case.
He said the tribunal sitting continues with the substance of the petition from tomorrow (today).
This Day.
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