By
Managing Editor
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At the resume sitting of the Zamfara Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Sokoto on Friday, Counsels to Dauda Lawal, PDP and INEC namely Samson Adiukwu, O. M Atoyebi (SAN) and Ishaka Mudi Dikko (SAN) had pleaded with the election petition tribunal to allow them more time to respond to the reply made by the petitioner’s counsel Usman O. Sule (SAN) on the point of law.
It could be recalled during the last sitting of the tribunal precisely on the 9th of June 2023, the tribunal granted a leave for all respondents in the petition filed by Bello Matawalle and APC to file their preliminary objections regarding the originating petition.
Barr. Samson Adiukwu holding the brief of D. D. Dodo (SAN) argued that their prayer for extension of time to reply to the petitioners on the point of law is in line with the (14) days time frame offered them by the electoral act .
He said, “pursuant to the order of this court made on the 9th day of June 2023 that all parties who intend to file interlocutory applications should file and served on or before 12th June 2023, the first respondent filed notice of preliminary objection challenging the competence of the petition filed by Bello Muhammad Matawalle”.
He noted that the petitioners had filed in their reply to the notice of the preliminary objection raised by the first respondent (Dauda Lawal) and they were served on the 15th of June 2023 and as such they need to file in their another reply on the point of law.
“The petitioners challenged the competence of our preliminary objection and that has necessitated the need to file our reply on the point of law”.
“Your lordship we are still within the time frame as provided for by paragraph 47(5) of the first schedule to the electoral act 2022 (as amended).
Dauda Lawal through his counsel therefore asked the court to adjourn the matter until 23rd of June 2023 to enable them file their reply to the petitioners on the point of law.
Counsel to the INEC Ishaka M. Dikko (SAN) as well as the PDP counsel O. M Atoyebi (SAN) do not opposed to the position canvassed by Dauda Lawal through his counsel.
In his response to the oral application Barr. Ibrahim Ali (Esq) said, the petitioners Bello Matawalle and APC hold no objection to the application and asked the court to use its discretion to rule on the application.
“It is correct they are entitled to file further affidavits and subject to the convenience of the court the petitioners are not objecting to the adjournment of the prehearing session until 23rd June 2023.
The Chairman of the tribunal later ruled that, considering how sensitive election petition is, the number of witnesses parties intend to bring to court and because of its timely nature the respondents are to file their replies to the petitioners’ response to their notice of preliminary objections latest 17th of June 2023.
