The National and State Assemblies Election Petition Tribunal in Plateau State handling the petition between George Daika, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Nora Daduut, and the All Progressive Congress, APC, has dismissed an application of the petitioners seeking an extension of time.
Sunday S. Oyawole, Counsel for the petitioners had applied for additional seven days to call a subpoenaed witness (Shehu Baba, Head of Operations INEC) after the 14 days granted by the law.
In its ruling, the Tribunal which is temporally sitting at the Dadin Kowa Youth Centre Jos, following the nationwide strike action embarked by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, upheld the arguments of counsel for the respondents to the effect that the petitioners have not placed cogent reasons to warrant the extension.
The Tribunal further held that Paragraph 41 sub Paragraph 10 of the 1st scheduled to the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) does not promote extension after 14 days granted by law to the petitioners that elapsed on March 25, 2021.