A three-man panel of the election tribunal handling the petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Isa Ashiru, alongside other political parties was inaugurated in Kaduna on Thursday.
The PDP had challenged the victory of the Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with claims that the last governorship election in the state was manipulated in favour of the incumbent governor.
In his inaugural speech, the chairman of the panel, Justice Victor O. Oviawe, promised to ensure that the tribunal upholds and works within the ambit of the provisions of the constitution.
According to Justice Oviawe, “The Tribunal will be just, and fair and do the right thing in the interest of the public.”
Speaking further, he sought the cooperation of the bar to enable the court to make timely delivery in line with the provisions of the electoral act.
In his remarks, the chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Tajudeen Muhammed, assured the panel of the NBA’s support, adding that the bar would give the utmost cooperation to the bench throughout the process of the case.
Other members of the panel are Justice D.A. Damulak and Justice N. Nonye.
The tribunal also said it would be sitting daily to ensure its task was completed within the stipulated time.
The leading counsel to Governor Uba Sani, Bayo Ojo, assured them of their cooperation and committed to defending their clients appropriately.
The leading counsel to the PDP gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 election, Samuel Atung, said they have been assured by the tribunal at its inaugural sitting that there would be justice, saying that as members of the bar, they have abiding faith in the tribunal that justice will be served.
