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The Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has urged reporters covering its proceedings to report them accurately.
The panel chairman, Justice Halima Mohammad, made the appeal during their inaugural sitting, threatening action in the event of any misrepresentation.
She said: “We expect balance reporting where necessary, as any form of misreporting, which has the tendency of heating up the polity, will be interpreted as a tacit hovering with the precinct of contempt.”
The judge, while declaring that the tribunal would be guided by peculiar rules and procedures, insisted not to tolerate any form of technicalities on the part of the lawyers to stultify speedy dispensation of justice.
The chair of the three-member panel urged security personnel to be alive to their duties.
Justice Mohammad pledged a level playing ground to all parties, seeking the support of members of the Bar, political parties and key stakeholders towards the success of their national assignment.
She went on: “We expect the Attorney General of the state as the leader of the official and unofficial Bar and minister in the temple of justice to guide the Bar in upholding the ethics of the profession.
“And to the members of the political parties, the tribunal having guaranteed a level playing ground, we do not expect anyone to heat up the polity by doing acts that may be inimical to the security of the tribunal and its members.”
Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Musa Abdullahi Lawan, pledged support for the activities of the panel
Meanwhile, the candidate of the Green Party of Nigeria (GPN) in the March 10 and 23 polls, Abdulssalam Abdulkarim, has withdrawn his petition against Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of the All Progressives Candidate (APC).
He had earlier filed the complaint challenging Ganduje’s declaration as winner of the exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In an eight-paragraph affidavit, Abdulkarim, through his counsel, Ibrahim Sa’ad, said the decision was informed by the need to allow peace reign in the state.
The governor’s lawyer, M.A. Lawan, did not contest the application.
Justice Mohammad subsequently granted the request.