Satumari v Ndume: Tribunal adjourned until May 20 for commencement of hearing

Satumari v Ndume: Tribunal adjourned until May 20 for commencement of hearing

The Borno National and State Houses of Assembly elections petition tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday adjourned until May 20 for commencement of hearing, in a suit filed by Malam Kudla Satumari and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
   
   
   
       
       
           
               
                   

The Borno National and State Houses of Assembly elections petition tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday adjourned until May 20 for commencement of hearing, in a suit filed by Malam Kudla Satumari and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

               
           
               
                   

Satumari and his party PDP on March 15, filed a petition with number EPT/BO/SEN/1/2019 before the tribunal.

               
           
               
                   

They are challenging the declaration of Sen. Mohammed Ndume of All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the Borno South Senatorial District conducted on Feb. 23, 2019.

               
           
               
                   

APC and INEC were also joined in the suit.

               
           
               
                   

Ndume and APC had objected to the issues raised by Satumari and PDP in their replies to their own reply to the petition , saying that they raise

               
           
               
                   

Justice Peter Kekemeke who heads the tribunal after listening to the applications by the parties adjourned until May 20, for commencement of hearing.

               
           
               
                   

He also reserved ruling on the applications until the final judgment.

               
           
               
                   

In the petition made available to NAN, Satumari averred that the election was marred by corrupt practices and non- compliance with provision of the Electoral Act.

               
           
               
                   

He therefore sought the order of the tribunal for cancellation of the election and for INEC to conduct fresh election for the Senatorial District within 90 days.

               
           
               
                   

Responding, Ndume in his reply to the petition made available to NAN also, 61#”denied the allegations in most of the paragraphs of the petition.

               
           
               
                   

In his reply filed on April 10, he averred that the said Borno South Senatorial election was free and fair and not fraught with irregularities and non- compliance with the Electoral Act.

               
           
               
                   

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Ndume denied the allegations and averment contained in the petition and demanded the petitioners for strict proof in accordance with the law to the extent of their materiality to the petition.

               
           
               
                   

He said during hearing in the suit, he will prove that the petition was defective, incompetent and did not comply the Electoral Act. 

               
           
               
                   

                 

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Source: Satumari v Ndume: Tribunal adjourned until May 20 for commencement of hearing

- gist culled from pulseng