Bauchi National and State Assembly Election Tribunal has ruled against Farouq Mustapha of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) who is challenging the election of Muhammad Bulkachuwa of the All Progressives Party (APC).
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Bulkachuwa was declared winner of the Bauchi North Senatorial poll during the just concluded election.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Hafsat Abdulrahaman, gave the ruling following an earlier motion filed by Joe Dappa, counsel to Mustapha, seeking for amendment to the petition filed before the tribunal.
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Abdulrahaman said that the tribunal was a special court guided by time, therefore, any amendment not effected within the 21 days limit was bound to fail.
“Especially that the petitioner is even requesting for substantial amendment of the petition.
“The tribunal hereby rules that any amendment not done within the last three weeks has lapsed and cannot be done,” she averred.
NAN also recalls that Mustapha, through Dappa, had on May 3, during a pretrial conference requested the tribunal to allow him effect a substantial amendment to his petition.
The application was collectively challenged by Rapheal Adekole, counsel to Bulkachuwa, as well as Usman Darazo and K. B. Dakfut counsel to APC, INEC and the returning officer respectively.
Abdurahaman, had then adjourned the case to May 9, for ruling on the application requesting for amendment.
Meanwhile, the tribunal has fixed May 11, for reports on the pretrial. (NAN)
