The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in
Lokoja has fixed Monday for ruling on two separate motions
seeking to stop the inauguration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as governor
on January 27.
The two motions seeking an order of the tribunal to stop the
inauguration were filed by counsel to Governor Idris Wada and PDP,
Chief Chris Uche (SAN) and that of Labour Party, Reuben Egwuaba.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Halima Mohammed, fixed the
date after listening to submissions and adoption of written
addresses of the counsel to the two parties Friday.
Uche said his motion on notice dated January 12 and filed on
January 13 was supported by a 44-paragraph affidavit and 10
grounds
In his own motion on notice, Egwuaba had averred that Bello was
not qualified to participate in the supplementary election when he
did.
He said apart from his failure to participate in all the electoral
processes preparatory to the governorship election, Bello breached
the Electoral Act (2010) as amended, as he contested the
supplementary election without a valid running mate.
“Consequent upon nomination of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as
replacement for Abubakar Audu, Hon. James Faleke, who was
Audu’s running mate, withdrew and dissociated himself from
participating in supplementary election as Bello’s running mate,” he
argued.
Joseph Daudu (SAN), counsel to the governor-elect, opposed the
motion in his submission, strengthened by a 31-paragraph counter
affidavit.
He urged the tribunal to dismiss the motion on the ground that the
tribunal was not constitutionally empowered to stop the swearing-
in of a governor-elect.
Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),
Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN) and the All Progressives Congress (APC),
Charles Edosomwan (SAN) also opposed the motion in their
submissions.

sourcehttp://thenationonlineng.net/tribunal-rules-on-motions-against-bellos-inauguration-monday/