Senatorial Candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, for the 2019 Bauchi North Senatorial District election, Hon. Farouq Mustapha has closed his case against Senator Adamu Mohammed Bulkachuwa of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Senator Adamu is the husband of the President of the court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa.
The NNPP candidate, Farouq Mustapha closed the case on Tuesday before panel-one of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal for Bauchi State after he had called a statistician and data analyst who analysed results and other electoral materials of the 2019 election held in the north senatorial district.
The statistician and data analyst while making his testimonies before the court said he had analysed the results and electoral materials used for the election and adopted his reports.
He also urged the tribunal to admit the reports in evidence in the matter.
Counsel for the 3 respondents: Bulkachuwa, APC and INEC cross examined the prosecution witness before the matter was adjourned.
The panel presided by Justice Hafsa AbdulRahman had fixed 5,6,and 7th August for the first, second and third respondents to open and close their cases.
WikkiTimes reports that yesterday, the petitioners tendered more electoral documents which were admitted in evidence by the tribunal.
A witness on subpoena from INEC, brought the electoral documents that included INEC report on Bauch-North Senatorial District election with attached result sheet; summary of candidates nominated at political party primaries in respect of APC for Senatorial election for Bauchi State dated the 12th day of October, 2018.
Other documents also tendered by the subpoenaed witness were form EC8A1 for 119 polling units in respect of the 7 local government areas that constitute the Senatorial district and form EC8B1 for 3 wards.
Counsel for the petitioners, Joe Dappa said although INEC did not furnish them with all the documents they asked for, they were confident that the case would be determined in their favour.
He added that they may prosecute the Bauchi State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for disrespecting court order.
Counsel for the respondents said they raised their objections to the electoral documents tendered by the petitioners in their final written addresses.
It would be recalled that Farouq Mustapha filed the petition on the 15th day of March, 2019 urging the Court to order the third respondent, INEC to declare and return him winner of the said election having won the majority of lawful votes cast.
WikkiTimes reports that Farouk expressed confidence in winning the case despite the influence of Zainab Bulkachuwa, President of the Court of Appeal within the judicial circle.
