INEC Opens Defence in Kano Guber Election Dispute – TheNigerialawyer

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday
appeared before the Kano State Election Petition Tribunal to begin
its defence against the allegations filed by Abba Kabiru Yusuf of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The counsel to INEC, Adedayo Adedeji, led one Idris Mohammed to
give evidence before the court.

The witness told the court that he was attached to Dala Local
Government Area in his capacity as the Electoral Officer, stating
that the March 23, 2019, gubernatorial elections were cancelled
because of cases of over voting and violence in some polling units
in the council area.

According to him, the cancellation of the outcome of elections
in some selected polling units located in the local government area
was formally reported to the commission by the assigned ward
collation officers.

He further stated that the regulations guiding the conduct of
the governorship elections have empowered INEC officials, who were
dissatisfied with the voting process to dismiss the election
outcome.

Mohammed explained that the official was mandated to write a
report notifying the commission of the recorded cases of violence
and over voting, which led to the cancellation.

The witness, in his deposition, told the court that the March 23
governorship election in some polling units in Adakawa and Bakin
Ruwa in Dala LGA was cancelled due to issues of over voting and
skirmishes.