Plateau Election Tribunal Adjourns Hearing

The Plateau State Election Petition Tribunal has adjourned till July 28 and 29 the anticipated substantive hearing expected to commence on Friday July 24.

The decision was made due to a motion filed by the petitioners in relation to the inspection of the reports of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which were a major factor in the case.

A list of reports to be tendered by the petitioners are; voters registers in seven Local Government Areas of Jos North, Mangu, Wase, Jos East, Bokkos, Shendam and Pankshin while polling units results, wards results and report on the election materials inspection, examination and analysis are also part of the evidences at the trial.

The tribunal also reinstated its determination not to shut out any party or counsel in the election petition with a fair and just manner, in spite of the antics employed by counsels at the ongoing trial.

Justice Candide Johnson expressed the tribunal’s disappointment that the substantive trial could not commence as originally scheduled due to counsels’ inability to meet the pre-hearing reports of sorting out and tidying up all documents for the purpose of commencing the trial.

The tribunal therefore postponed the commencement of the hearing till the above stated date, with the petitioner’s counsel presenting the case with detailed reports.