AIDOKO AND ECHOCHO Kogi East; Election Tribunal Commences 2 Days Hearing Of Senator Aidoko Suite, From May 30th

National Assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja, will commence full and accelerated hearing on Thursday,May 30th,Friday 31st, in a case brought by Senator Atai Aidoko Ali of PDP ,against Senator elect,Jibrin Isah of APC

The decision was reached by the panel handling the case after a thorough two session pre-hearing; to determine the merit or otherwise of the case in relation to the last election in Kogi east

Aidoko lawyers proffered their case on three grounds of non qualification,wide spread malpractices and irregularities,forgery among others against the return of Senator elect from Kogi east

The tribunal commended the lawyers for doing a thorough job, that will assist the panel in dispensing justice without fear or favour from any parties involved

The February election and the rerun were marred with alot of glaring malpractices, with heavily armed thugs that criss crossed the lenght and breadth of kogi east, precluding eligible voters in some areas from exercising their electoral rights, against the electoral act

Not only that,majority of the result were manufactured by the opponents, using their highly militarized and armed thugs to scare away the PDP agents, from collation centres both at the polling unit,ward and local government collation centres

The CTC documents that emanated from INEC, will leverage the panel to allow a recount or otherwise of materials used for the election in the area, with most of the original documents of INEC submitted as results, duplicated in contravention of the electoral law

Both parties for the first time were present in court with a tense party supporters and security presence, at the magistrate court Wuse, Abuja

The tribunal has 180 days to deliver judgment from the day of the declaration, of the winner of the election,saying having spent three months out of the time,they have the remaining time to adjudicate fast on Kogi east issue

Senator Atai Aidoko Ali came second in the last election,then as incumbent senator representing the area.

By Austin Okai