PDP, Wada beat deadline, submit petition to tribunal

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last month’s governorship election in Kogi State, Musa Wada, has dragged Governor Yahaya Bello before the election petition tribunal.

Wada, who said he was coming directly from the burial of Mrs. Salome Abuh, who was burnt in her home, by yet to be identified culprits, stated that he personally showed up to file the petition because of the importance it commands.  

Accompanied to the tribunal by party members, supporters and his lawyer, Jibril Okutekpa (SAN), the PDP candidate are challenging Bello’s victory after he was declared the winner of the election, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He polled 406, 222 votes as against Wada’s 189, 704 votes.  
  
Wada showing up at the tribunal on Saturday evening may not be unconnected with the near-expiration of the 21-day period allowed by law for an aggrieved candidate, or party to appeal against an election result.   

The three-volume petition submitted by the PDP’s candidate has over 500 pages.