Gombe election tussle: Tribunal orders forensic analysis of polling materials

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Gombe state on Tuesday granted the request of the APC and its governorship candidate, demanding a forensic examination of documents used during the 2015 Governorship election.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Mathew Adewara, granted the request in his ruling on an application filed by the APC.

He said the tribunal would allow the forensic examination of the document to enable the petitioners (APC and its gubernatorial candidate) have necessary materials for the purpose of the presentation of their petition in the case.

The chairman however refused to grant the second request of the petitioners demanding for a recount of votes cast during the elections.

He cited section 64 of the Electoral Act,which says counting of votes should be done at the polling units

It would be recalled that during the last sitting, Hassan Liman (SAN), counsel to INEC, the third respondent in the petition, had argued that granting the demand of the petitioners for the conduct of forensic examination, would amount to a breach of the rights to secrecy of the voters.

In his counter-argument regarding the second request of the petitioners for a recount of votes cast, Ibrahim Isiaku (SAN) , counsel to the first respondent, Gov Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe, had said the petitioners could not ask for recount of votes in respect of all units, when their complaint covered only 677 of the 2168 polling units in the state.

The APC in Gombe and its gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya, are challenging the return of Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of the PDP as the duly elected governor of the state in the last governorship election.

Tribunal Chairman, Justice Adewara ,has adjourned the case to 4 July, for continuation.