The Bauchi State elections petition tribunal has adjourned until April 30 the case involving Alhaji Tata Omar and the All Progressives Congress challenging the declaration of Mohammed Jatau of the Peoples Democratic Party as winner of the Zaki Federal Constituency poll.
The National and State Houses of Assembly Tribunal, which sat on Friday in Bauchi, ordered the adjournment for commencement of hearing on the adjourned date.
This was after it had heard the briefs from the petitioner and the respondent on the January 25, Zaki Federal Constituency rerun election.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Omar and the APC on March 13, with file Number EPT/NASS/BA/02/2020, filed a petition before the tribunal challenging the declaration of Jatau as the winner.
PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission were also joined in the suit as second and third respondents.
Justice Haruna Kereng, who heads the tribunal, after listening to the applications and the pre-trial conference by the parties, adjourned until April 30 for commencement of hearing.
Kereng said: “Further, it is also directed that the said hearing shall be on a day-to-day basis, including Saturdays.
“The tribunal may, if it thinks it is expedient and in the interest of justice, enlarge or bridge any allotted number of days and the duration of time allotted.”
Kereng said the parties are allowed to call 21 witnesses during the proceedings.
The chairman of the tribunal also explained to each party that 20 minutes for examination in chief would be allowed.
“Also 10 minutes for re-examination and 30 minutes for cross-examination,” he added.
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