THE Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Court ‘6’ of Jos High Court, Plateau State, has adjourned the pre-hearing in a petition filed by Ambassador Golkona Yohanna Gotom, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), challenging Senator Diket Plang, of the All Progressive Congress (APC)’s declaration as winner of February 25, election.
The Chairman of the Election Petition Tribunal Committee, Justice Tukur Muhammad, made the adjournment Monday, while presiding over the case following submissions by Counsel to the Petitioner, Prof. Sylvester S. Shikyil, SAN, Counsel to the 1st Respondent, Sani Rabiu Esq, Counsel to the 2nd and 3rd Respondents, NK Danyin Esq and Sunday Obande Esq respectively.
Earlier, Counsel to 3rd the Respondent, Sunday Obande Esq, after the counsels submitted that they prepared for pre-hearing, applied that he just stumbled on the petition and may not have prior knowledge of the proceedings and would want the tribunal to allow him to go through it.
However, Counsel to the Petitioner, SS Shikyil, SAN, pleaded that the tribunal should consider the request and that the pre-hearing should be stood down to enable the Counsel to the 3rd Respondent, which the tribunal obliged and two hours was given for counsels to reconcile their documents.
On resumption for the pre-hearing proper, Counsel to the Petitioner applied that all answers and application would be served for adoption in the next 24 hours for effective services immediately and the case was adjourned for pre-hearing proper on July 18, 2023 and would be taken concurrently.
Also adjourned to July 15, 2023 was the Petition suit No, EPT/PL/SEN/02/2023 filed by Barrister Simon Bako Lalong, of the All Progressive Congress (APC) challenging the declaration of AVM Napoleon Bali, of the People Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of February 25 National Assembly Election to represent Plateau South.
Meanwhile, former Majority Leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Daniel Naanlong Gapyil, of the APC has challenged the current Speaker of the 10th Assembly, Rt. Hon . Sule Thomas, claiming that he was declared in error because there was over voting and massive irregularities caused by non compliance to the electoral guidelines of 2022.
