From Maiharaji Altine, Gusau
The Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, Zamfara state capital has concluded hearing on a suit filed by Ibrahim Shehu and two others challenging the credibility of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship primary election.
Those joined in the suit are Wadatau Madawaki and Hafiz Mohammed.
The defendants are, the People’s Democratic party (PDP), the national officer of the party, Maina Waziri, and the state’s PDP chairman, Col Bala Mande (rtd).
Others are, the PDP Governorship candidate Dauda Lawan Dare and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Chief judge of the court, Justice Aminu Bappa adjourned the case on Monday but did not specifically mention the date for its continuation.
Bappa stated that the date for the judgement would be communicated to all parties at a later date.
Recall that Dauda Lawan Dare was returned as the PDP flag bear for 2023 general elections in the state in the last gubernatorial election held on May 25 this year.
But the three aspirants, Ibrahim Shehu, Wadatau Madawaki and Hafiz Mohammed kicked against the election and went to court seeking for the nullification of the election.
In an interview with journalists immediately after the court’s session, counsel to the plaintiffs, Ibrahim Aliyu said “we have written addresses in this matter, there by closing the whole trials leaving the court with the jurisdiction to determine the outcome of the case”.
“We have already presented to the court the facts and pleadings as contained in our court processes we have already filed earlier”.
“We have laid sufficient evidences to establish the facts that there was non compliance with the guidelines of the PDP for the conduct of primary election as well as the PDP constitution 2017 as amended”.
“There was also non compliance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the Electoral Act 2022”.
Barrister Aliyu concluded that, “Everything was left to the court to decide on the matter”.
Also speaking, Counsel to the 2nd and 3rd defendants, Chinedu Ezeh said, hearing has been concluded, adding that, “evidences were laid before the honourable court”.
“What we are praying is that the case should be dismissed for lack of prove”.
Counsel to the 1st and 4th dependants, Chukwuebuka Okafor told journalists after the Court’s session that the plaintiffs have no enough evidences to support their case.
“All their witnesses and evidences were watered down during cross examination.
“These were parts of the presentations we made during the sitting”.
