The Allied People Movement, APM on Wednesday kept to its promise and closed its petition before the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC after calling a witness and tendering documents from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the court promptly adjourned to July 14 for adoption of written addresses.
APM is challenging the victory of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and vice-president Kashim Shettima at the February 25 presidential election and has anchored it case on the ground that Tinubu who won the election was not qualified as candidate for the election.
Gideon Idaigbonya, counsel to the petitioner (APM) moved the motion to close the petition after tendering of evidence from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The seven pieces of evidence from the INEC comprises INEC Form EC8E and The Notice of withdrawal of Kabir Masari as Vice-Presidential.
APM evidence also includes Shettima Kashim’s Notice of Withdrawal as Borno Central Senatorial Candidate of APC; The letter of voluntary withdrawal written to APC by Kashim as Senatorial Candidate of APC for Borno Central Senatorial District.
The affidavit in support of personal particulars for nominations of Kashim as Vice-Presidential Candidate; The affidavit in support of personal particulars for nominations of Ibrahim Kabir Masari as Vice-Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress (Form EC9); The affidavit in support of personal particulars for nominations of Lawal Kaka Shehu as Borno Central Senatorial Candidate of All Progressives Congress(APC) (Form EC9)
At the Wednesday proceedings, the petitioner called out its sole witness to testify in its efforts to establish his case against Tinubu and Shettima.
The witness, Aisha Abubakar, during cross-examined by Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, a counsel to the All Progressives Congress, APC, admitted that she was aware of the Supreme Court judgment delivered on May 26, 2023, that declared nomination of candidate internal matters of the political parties.
Aisha Abubakar, also during the cross-examination read out some parts of the judgment of the Supreme Court that declared the election of candidate as solely an internal affair of political parties.
Consequently, the Counsel to the APC, Fagbami, SAN tendered a certified copy of the Supreme Court judgment on the nomination of candidates as evidence and it was admitted by the court.
While the counsel to INEC, Kemi Pinhero, SAN tendered a certified true copy of a letter from Shittima to INEC capturing his (Shittima) withdrawal as the senatorial candidate of Borno Central.
The court subsequently gave the petitioner ten days to file and serve its written address and seven days for respondents.
Meanwhile, the presidential election petition court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned the petition to July 14 for the adoption of written addresses.