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Tag: Tribunal

  • Cross River North: Tribunal affirms PDP senator’s election

    Cross River North: Tribunal affirms PDP senator’s election

    The Election Petition Tribunal seating in Calabar over the By-Election of December 5, 2020 in Cross River North Senatorial district, on Friday gave its final judgment affirming Senator Stephen Odey of the Peoples Democratic Party as duly elected.

    The three man tribunal, presided over by Justice Yusuf Ubale Muhammad in a four hour long judgment read by Justice Muhammad dismissed the petition N0: EPT/CR/SEN/03/2020 between Joe Agi SAN and the All Progressive Congress as the 1st and 2nd Petitioners versus Stephen Odey, Jerigbe Agom Jerigbe, Peoples’ Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission as 1st to 4th respondents respectively.

    The Tribunal agreed with the preliminary objections earlier raised by the Respondents and held that the petition lacked merits before it, as the grounds of the petition was only suited for a pre-election matter.

    It noted that among the issues before it, is if the PDP had a candidate that was duly nominated and if the petitioner was justified by the instant petition?

    The judgment further noted that the petitioner admitted during cross examination by saying, “let it be on records that I am not contesting the votes, all I am saying is that the PDP had no candidate in the election and so the votes scored are wasted votes.”

    The first respondent, Sen. Odey scored 129,307 votes and the Petitioner scored 18,165votes in the election. And as for the petition arguing that the two candidates for the PDP were not qualified to stand election as on the election day of December 5, 2020, the Tribunal judgment said thus;

    “The question to ask is in view of the admission of the petitioner that he is not a member of the PDP and he left since 2017, does he have the locus standi to challenge the primaries of the PDP? The definite answer is no.”

    “The position of the law is that it is only an aspirant who contested a primary election that can approach the court under the provision of the section 87.9 of the electoral ACT. It therefore shows that the petitioner in this petition has no locus standi to challenge the return of the first respondent.

    “As for the evidence before the tribunal, the first petitioner alleged that the 3rd respondent sponsored two candidates for the senatorial by-election for CRS north which led to the issuance of two certificates of return; 1st to Odey on the 6th of Dec, 2020 and another to the 18th of Feb. 2021.”

    The tribunal submitted that the 2nd respondent Hon. Jerigbe Agom was not a candidate in the election and that the certificate of Return issued to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission was done wrongfully and should be discountenanced.

    “It is not possible for the INEC to hear someone who has not submitted form CF001 and CF 002 as the nomination process is complete only when the Commission receives the necessary documents – see the decision in PDM Vs INEC 2020. On the whole, we hold that there is no evidence before us to destroy the return of the first respondent as the duly elected senator represented Cross River North. We have studied exhibits A22, the Judgment of the Court of Appeal and we could not find where a certificate of Return issued to the first respondent is nullified and as such the issuance of the 2nd certificate of return to the 2nd respondent by INEC is wrongful and hereby discountenanced.”

    Counsel for the petitioner, Olademeji Ekemgbe reacted to the judgment by hinting that they have seen areas in the judgment that needs to be tested in the appeal court and his client will be advised accordingly after studying the judgment.

  • BREAKING: Tribunal dismisses ADP’s petition against Obaseki

    BREAKING: Tribunal dismisses ADP’s petition against Obaseki

    The Edo State governorship election petitions tribunal on Monday dismissed the petition filed by Action Democratic Party (ADP) and its governorship candidate, Iboi Emmanuel against the election of Godwin Obaseki.

    Details shortly…

  • Edo guber: Tribunal grants substituted service on Obaseki, adjourns sitting

    Edo guber: Tribunal grants substituted service on Obaseki, adjourns sitting

    The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Friday granted ex-parte motions filed by five petitioners for substituted means of service against their respective respondents.

    Chairman of the Tribunal, Hon. Justice Abdulrazaq Abdulkareem, granted the order at its inaugural sitting in Benin City.

    Five political parties had filed petitions at the Tribunal challenging the outcome of the September 19 governorship election, which was won by the candidate of the PDP candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    The political parties seeking to nullify the victory of Godwin Obaseki are Action Democratic Party (ADP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

    Earlier at his inaugural comment, Justice Abdulkareem assured that the Tribunal is committed to completing the five petitions before it within the stipulated time frame.

    He solicited the co-operation of all parties and their counsels, assuring that the Tribunal would perform its duties without prejudice to any party.

    “We wish to assure you that in our quest to get to the truth of these matters, we shall act in good faith and shall do our work without any form of bias or appearance of any preconception.

    “We wish to assure you that in our quest to get to the truth of the matters before us; we shall act in good faith, and shall do our work with open mind, without any form of bias or appearance of any preconception. We also pledge not to lend ourselves to any form of external influence,” he said.

    Speaking for counsels to all parties, Mr. Ken Mozia (SAN), assured the Tribunal of their cooperation.

    Mozia promised that they would do their best to file their applications within the specified time frames.

    Justice Abdulkareem thereafter adjourned sitting to Monday, December 7, for pre-hearing process.

  • Ondo poll: Jegede challenges Akeredolu’s victory, heads to Tribunal

    Ondo poll: Jegede challenges Akeredolu’s victory, heads to Tribunal

    Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the October 10 governorship election in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede, has filed petition at the tribunal challenging the victory of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    Governor Akeredolu won in 15 out of the 18 local government areas to lead Jegede with a wide margin at the polls.

    Other defendants in the petition are; the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the All Progressives Congress and the Deputy Govenor- elect, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

    Among the grounds on which the election is being challenged include; that it was marred by irregularities and pockets of violence and intimidation.

    Jegede also faulted the emergence of Akeredolu during Party’s primaries.

    He is also asking the tribunal to declare him winner of the election.

  • Appeal Court President constitutes tribunal for Edo governorship election

    Appeal Court President constitutes tribunal for Edo governorship election

    President of the Court of Appeal Justice Monica Dongban-Menem has constituted the election tribunal to adjudicate petitions arising from the just concluded Edo governorship election.

    The tribunal’s Secretary, Sunday Martins said, in a statement, Edo Chief Judge approved the use of the High Court on Sapele Road, Benin City as venue of the tribunal’s sitting.

    The statement reads in part: “The general public is hereby put on notice that the Honourable President of Court of Appeal of Nigeria Hon. Justice M. B Dongban Mensem has established the election petition tribunal secretariat and accordingly constituted a panel in respect of the governorship election conducted in Edo State.

    “The Honorable Chief Judge of the StateHon. Justice E. A. Edigin has graciously approved the use of High Court Complex (Election Petition Court Hall), Sapele Road, Benin City for the Tribunal Exercise.

    The Secretariat is now open.

    “For further enquiries, please contact the Secretary on mobile phone number: 07010058493.”

  • BREAKING: Tribunal sacks Governor Diri, orders fresh election in 90 days

    BREAKING: Tribunal sacks Governor Diri, orders fresh election in 90 days

    The Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has nullified the election of Governor Duoye Diri.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Petition Tribunal passed the judgment on Monday.

    The election was nullified based on a petition by the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP), which argued that it was unlawfully excluded from participating in the election.

    The three-man panel held that the election was unlawful due to the exclusion of ANDP and its candidate, King George from the governorship election that held in November.

    The tribunal, however, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a bye-election within 90 days.

    According to the tribunal, the INEC has no power to disqualify any candidate for any election.

    TNG reports the INEC had in its argument said ANDP’s deputy governorship candidate, David Esinkuma was 34 years old at the time of nomination and therefore did not qualify for the election.

    However, the ANDP told the tribunal that David Esinkuma was duly substituted by the party within the allowed time frame, following the notification from INEC that he is under-age.

    The tribunal ruled that only a court has the power to disqualify any candidate for any election and that the petition was filed within the 21 days which is the stipulated time for petitions to be filed.

    Justice Musa described the action of INEC to exclude the ANDP from the Bayelsa Governorship Election as illegal.

    However, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Muhammad Sirajo dismissed the petition in its entirety on technical grounds.

  • JUST IN: Tribunal dismisses petitions against Bayelsa Gov, Deputy

    JUST IN: Tribunal dismisses petitions against Bayelsa Gov, Deputy

    The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed two petitions challenging the victory of Governor Duoye Diri and his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, in the last election in the state.

    The petition were filed by the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the United Peoples Congress (UPC).

    The tribunal’s three-man panel held that the petitioners’ failed to prove their cases.

    Justice S.M. Owoduni, in the lead judgment in the petition by the AD and its candidate, Owei Woniwei, held that the petitioners failed to prove the allegation that Ewhrudjakpo forged his declaration of age and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharged certificate.

    Justice Owoduni said the petition lacked merit and proceeded to dismiss it.

    The tribunal is currently on its judgment in the third petition filed by Vijah Opuama of the Liberation Movement (LM) party.

    Opuama is, in his petition filed on February 21, 2020, challenging the election of Diri and Ewhrudjakpo on the grounds that the deputy governor was not qualified to contest the election.

    ‎Details shortly…

  • Kogi West: Melaye loses at Tribunal, says ‘I never expected justice at this level’

    The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Kogi West senatorial candidate, Dino Melaye.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC had declared Adeyemi as the winner of the poll against Dino Melaye of PDP.

    Adeyemi garnered 88,373 votes while Dino Melaye scored 62,133.

    But Melaye petitioned the tribunal seeking for him to be declared the winner of the election or on the contrary, the election is quashed for INEC to conduct a fresh election.

    However, the three judges of the tribunal in a unanimous ruling on Wednesday said the petitioners’ witnesses failed to substantiate their claims in the petition to warrant granting Melaye his prayers.

    They also held that the Dino Melaye failed to prove non-compliance with the standard of electoral acts in the election.

    The tribunal said all the 71 witnesses called by the petitioners contracted themselves during cross-examinations and made a “worthless, unreliable and unmerited statement” that cannot be relied on.

    The court also rejected the videos and other documents presented by the Petitioner during the final written addresses, because they were not pleaded uring proceedings.

    The Tribunal subsequently dismissed Melaye’s petition and upheld Senator Smart Adeyemi as duly and lawfully elected in the Kogi West Senate election.

    Reacting to the development, Dino Melaye said: “I never expected Justice at this level. But we shall laugh last.”

    He confirmed that he will seek redress at the Court of Appeal.

    Dino Melaye, however, urged his supporters to stay away from violence and remain happy as he believed “justice” will be achieved.

  • BREAKING: Yahaya Bello wins again at Tribunal, defeats PDP’s candidate, Wada

    BREAKING: Yahaya Bello wins again at Tribunal, defeats PDP’s candidate, Wada

    The Kogi Governorship Election Tribunal has dismissed the case filed by Musa Wada, the PDP candidate against the election of Governor Yahaya Bello.

    The three man panel of judges, led by Justice Ibrahim Kaigama gave its delayed ruling in Abuja on Saturday.

    In a unanimous judgement, the tribunal dismissed the petition of Musa Wada for lack of merit.

    In addition, the tribunal asked him to pay N500,000 as costs to the APC and INEC for his frivolous claims.

    Musa Wada scored 189,704 votes to emerge the first runner-up of the November 16 election.

    He challenged the victory of Yahaya Bello, who polled 406,222 votes.

    Meanwhile, the PDP candidate has vowed to challenge the judgment at the court of Appeal to seek for justice and reclaim what he termed as “stolen mandate”.

    Before today’s ruling, the tribunal had also dismissed two other petitions against Bello.

  • Again, Tribunal affirms Yahaya Bello’s election as Kogi Gov

    The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and his party Friday recorded another victory at the Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

    This time it was in a petition filed by the Action Peoples Party, APP against the Governor and his All Progressives Congress.

    The petition was dismissed with a cost of N100,000 against the petitioners for lacking in merit.

    The three man panel of judges, led by Justice Ibrahim Kaigama, said the petitioners failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.

    This will be the second win for the Governor in about a week.

    Earlier, the tribunal had dismissed the petition of Barrister Natasha Akpoti of the Social Democratic Party, SDP for lacking in merit.

    The judges awarded N600,000 fine against her.

    The tribunal is expected to rule on Saturday, 23rd May in the petition jointly filed by Engr. Musa Wada and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP challenging Bello’s victory in the 16 November 2019 poll.