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Tag: Tribunal

  • Tribunal affirms Nasarawa governor’s election

    Tribunal affirms Nasarawa governor’s election

    The Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2019 general election, Hon. David Emmanuel Ombugadu against Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Governor Abdulahi Sule and the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    The Tribunal presided over by Justice Abba Bello Mohammed in a nine-hour judgment said, “the petition lacks merit and so thereby dismissed”.

    According to him, the petitioner was supposed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt for alleged over voting, disruption of votes, falsification of results among others.

    He said, petition was not in compliance with the provision of the 2010 electoral Act, so failed to establish acts for his claim.

    The Judge further added that none of the witnesses who testified for the petitioner were able to establish facts or tendered any documents that can substantial the allegations made.

    Reacting to the tribunal judgement, counsel to the Petitioner, Affiku Gambo, said they will make consultation before taking any further decision.

    Also speaking on behalf of the State Governor, the Deputy Governor, Emmanuel Akabe, commended the tribunal for the judgement, stressing that the ruling has affirmed the people’s votes count.

  • Tribunal upholds Masari’s election as Katsina governor

    Tribunal upholds Masari’s election as Katsina governor

    There was wild celebration on the streets of Katsina over the decision of the election petition tribunal which on Saturday in Abuja upheld the re-election of Governor Aminu Bello Masari.

    The re-election of Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina state was confirmed by a majority decision taken by the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Katsina State which ruled that the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate was lawful and valid

    The tribunal had by a split 2-1 decision, dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Senator Yakubu Lado, challenging Masari’s victory at the poll.

    This is the second time this year that Governor Masari is defeating Senator Yakubu Lado of the PDP, having defeated him in the March 9 Guber election

    While delivering its judgement, the Tribunal which delivered its judgment in Abuja, dismissed all the grounds of the petition, saying that the petitioner did not prove them beyond reasonable doubt as required by law.

    Reading the verdict on behalf of two other members of the three-man tribunal, Justice Augustine Ityonyiman affirmed that Governor Masari was the duly elected governor of Katsina State, having scored majority of lawful votes cast in the election.

    He said: “There is no shred of cogent evidence in proof of their allegations as required by relevant laws. In the circumstance, the petitioners are not entitled to any of the reliefs sought in their petitions. The petition is therefore dismissed in its entirety for lack of merit.”

    The minority judgment, however, came through the Chairperson of the three-man panel, Justice Hadiza Ali Jos, who told other members that Governor Masari “does not have the requisite qualification to contest the election”.

    But her move was overruled by the other two members of the panel, leading to the victory of Governor Masari at the tribunal.

    Meanwhile, there was jubilation galore in at the Governors lodge in asokoro Abuja, as both the victorious Governor and top government functionaries, APC supporters present were seen jubilating and thanking Allah for the victory

    The State Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Shitu Shitu described the verdict as a victory for democracy and called on opponents to join hands with Masari to move the state forward

    Also reacting to the judgment, the state Chairman of the PDP, Salisu Yusuf Majigiri, expressed displeasure over the judgment, insisting that the party and its candidate would Appeal the court ruling

  • Why I am pursuing judicial option for my mandate – Atiku

    The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar said his recourse to the court over the 2019 presidential election was to ensure that “votes of Nigerians count.”

    Abubakar in a statement he issued on Friday in Abuja, said it was also to ensure that democracy was seen to be done in Nigeria.

    He said that “nothing good comes easy”, and that hard work was needed in the task to rid Nigeria of the forces of fascism.

    Besides, he said that the route he had adopted for reclaiming his mandate was also for the full restoration of the rule of law and democracy in Nigeria.

    “I owe so much to this great land of Nigeria that took me from the streets of Jada, where I sold firewood, to the heights I have attained, by God’s benevolence, in the civil service, in corporate Nigeria, and in public service.

    “If I do not play my part in making it possible for other orphaned children, indigent youths and the less privileged, to replicate and even surpass my path to significance, I will have failed my Maker.

    “If I do not ensure that the ladder I climbed remains accessible to those at the bottom, middle and top tiers of society, I will not have fulfilled my purpose.

    “And only by ensuring that democracy is not just done, but seen to be done, can Nigeria and Nigerians have a sense that this our dear land is indeed a land where unity, faith, peace and progress reside.

    “It is for this, and other patriotic reasons, that I am pursuing this judicial route: To ensure that the votes of Nigerians count and are counted,” he said.

    The former vice president said those who did not want Nigeria to be a reality, would use every trick in the book to undermine, discourage, misinform and mislead the populace.

    He, however, said that with God’s help and the support of Nigerians, he would ensure that Nigeria was on course towards genuine democracy.

    “We must return to being Africa’s bastion of democracy, where the rights to freedom of speech and freedom after the speech, are guaranteed.

    “We must stand together to pursue this just cause all the way, so that our judiciary are not afraid to do their jobs and have to be wary of blackmail, intimidation, and victimisation,” he said.

    Abubakar appreciated Nigerians’ support for shared common goal and the solidarity he enjoyed from all walks of life and every strata of society, right from July 21, 2018, when he declared his intention to contest the presidential election.

    He said that the support continued to Sept 11, when the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal rendered its verdict.

    Abubakar noted the immense outpouring of goodwill from ordinary Nigerians in every nook and cranny of Nigeria and from all regions, religions and relationships.

    “I also thank the governors elected on the platform of my party, the PDP, as well as the National Executive Committee, for their unanimous and unambiguous support for the judicial phase of this struggle, especially after it was announced that we would go on to appeal,” he said.

    He urged all Nigerians to continue their support for that recourse to constitutional order via the courts.

    “Even if there is little or nothing you can do to ensure that justice is done in Nigeria, just believe that it will happen. Let us never underestimate the effect of our belief in Nigeria.

    “Finally, I say to all concerned, that we will all die and give account of our lives to our creator, “ he said.

  • Tribunal upholds Ishaku’s election as Taraba governor

    Tribunal upholds Ishaku’s election as Taraba governor

    The Taraba State Governorship Election Tribunal has dismissed the petition by Abubakar Danladi of the All Progressive Party (APC) challenging the re-election of Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 9, 2019 governorship election.

    A three-man panel led by Justice M.O. Adewara unanimously held that the petitioners failed to prove their claims that the marred by irregularities and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

    Justice Adewara, who read the lead judgment, also held that since a Federal High Court in the state, gave a judgment on March 6, 2019, in suit: FHC/JAL/CS/01/2019, disqualifying Danladi from contesting the election, he could not be said to be a candidate in the election.

    The tribunal also held that since judgment was upheld up to the Supreme Court, it meant that APC had no valid candidate in the election, did not participate in the election and was not qualified, along with Danladi, to have presented a petition before the tribunal.

    The tribunal further held, that even if the petition was to be considered on the merit, the petition failed to lead sufficient evidence to establish their claims that Ishaku was not validly elected by majority of lawful votes and that the election was marred by irregularities, non-compliance and corrupt practices.

    Details shortly…

  • Abia South: Tribunal upholds Abaribe’s election, APGA candidate, Nkwonta kicks

    The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the Abia State capital has upheld the declaration of the Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Delivering the judgement, a member of the three member panel, Justice Wasiu Animahun faulted the decision of the petitioners to rely on card reader accreditation.

    He noted that the machine could not take the place of the voters’ register as it was only complimentary.

    The panel held that if the number of over-voting claimed by the petitioners was removed from the figure with which Abaribe was declared winner, he would still maintain a reasonable margin of lead over the petitioners.

    Dismissing the petition for lack of merit, the tribunal held that the petitioners failed to prove their allegation of irregularities.

    It, however, awarded the cost of N500, 000 against the petitioners in favour of the second (Abaribe) and third PDP respondents.

    But the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, candidate Chief Chris Nkwonta, has faulted the judgment of the election petition tribunal.

    But In an interview, Nkwonta said the tribunal erred in law when it failed to consider that the fact that the INEC guideline on the use of smart card readers for accreditation of voters, was part of the electoral process.

    He alleged that going by the total number of accredited voters by the card reader, the results announced by INEC is higher than what is recorded in the card readers.

    The APGA chieftain lamented that the tribunal also ignored the various cases of over voting and numerous mutilations results entered in favour of his opponent and expressed hope that the Court of Appeal would rectify the matter.

    “The tribunal erred in its judgment. It ignored the major flank of the petition which was the issue of use of smart card readers to accredit voters. The use of smart card readers as an INEC guideline to accredit voters is part of the electoral process meant to ensure the integrity of the system. The tribunal also ignored the serial mutilation of results across polling units in the zone, especially in Obingwa where my opponent comes from. The question is, if my opponent is popular, why did he have to resort to rigging in his local government?

    “Our judicial system must check the issue of desperation among political office seekers. The issue is that during election, a candidate will manipulate the system to be declared winner because he knows that his action will be rendered a fait accompli by the tribunal. This is unfair. There is no doubt that the Court of Appeal will not ignore such facts.”

  • JUST IN: Tribunal upholds Niger Governor’s election

    The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal holding in Minna, Niger state has upheld the election of Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State.

    The Tribunal dismissed the petitions of the PDP and its candidate Umar Nasko declaring that it lacks merit.

    Details shortly…

  • JUST IN: Tribunal upholds Makinde’s election as Oyo governor

    JUST IN: Tribunal upholds Makinde’s election as Oyo governor

    … dismisses Adelabu, APC’s suit

    The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ibadan on Monday, upheld the victory of Gov. Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Adebayo Adelabu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had filed petition against Makinde in the March 9 Governorship election in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adelabu and his party APC challenged the declaration of Makinde by INEC as the winner of March 9 governorship election in Oyo State.

    Makinde polled 515,621 votes to defect his closest rival, Adelabu who had 357,982 votes while PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are also respondents.

    The petitioners said that Makinde was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes, adding that election was marred by over voting and failure to comply with the provision of Electoral Act.

    Adelabu, therefore, prayed the tribunal to declare him the winner of the election, adding that he scored the highest number of lawful votes or alternatively, the tribunal should nullify the election and order a re-run.

    The Chairman of the tribunal three-man tribunal, Justice Muhammed Sirajo who delivered the unanimous judgment said the testimonies of the ward and local government agents, called by the petitioners could, not be relied.

    According to the tribunal, the agents were not speak the truth but and only relied on what they were been told by the polling units agents

    He said that 32 pieces of evidence, out of the 69 witnesses called by the petitioners were hearsay because the petitioners were ward and local government collation agents while the remaining 37 were polling unit agents.

    Sirajo said that the petitioners called 69 witnesses and tendered 4,164 exhibits while the respondents called 15 witnesses, adding that said the testimony of an eye witness must come from the polling units agents who witnessed all that happened from the beginning to the end during the election.

    The tribunal said that the petitioners also failed to tender necessary documents that would assist members of the tribunal in proving ballot paper accounting.

    He said that it was not only the responsibilities of petitioners to tender documents but also to prove that the alleged irregularities in the election substantially affected the outcome of the election.

    Sirajo said that the petitioners failed to prove that the respondents were not validly elected by majority of lawful votes.

    “The petitioner failed to prove the allegation of non-compliance, non-accreditation, over voting and corrupt practices that would warrant the tribunal to nullified the election,“ he said.

    Sirajo, who said that the petition lacked merit and stood dismissed, awarded N200, 000 cost against the petitioners..

    In an interview, the counsel to the petitioners, Mr Akin Oladeji, said they would decide on next line of action after studying the judgment

  • JUST IN: Tribunal dismisses Akinlade’s petition, affirms Abiodun’s election as Ogun governor

    JUST IN: Tribunal dismisses Akinlade’s petition, affirms Abiodun’s election as Ogun governor

    Massive jubilation and dancing erupted at Isabo and spread to other parts of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal led by Justice Yusuf Halilu affirmed the victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun in the March 9, gubernatorial election in the state.

    The jubilant are supporters of Dapo Abiodun and members of the All Progressives Congress(APC) who since morning surged into Isabo, waiting for the outcome of the petition.

    In affirming Abiodun’s victory, the tribunal declared that the petitioner, Hon. Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) “did not only failed, but also irredeemably failed to prove” his case against Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress(APC).

    The Tribunal chairman, Justice Yusuf Halilu held that Akinlade’s petition ” is destined to fail, it failed and is hereby dismissed.”

    He added that Abiodun was duly elected by virtue of scoring the highest number of valid votes cast by the voters and declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying the Tribunal concur with it and has no reason whatsoever to tinker with the outcome of the March 9 governorship election in Ogun State.

    Details shortly…

  • BREAKING: [Ogun guber] Tribunal strikes out Akinlade’s petition challenging Abiodun’s qualification

    BREAKING: [Ogun guber] Tribunal strikes out Akinlade’s petition challenging Abiodun’s qualification

    The Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal led by Justice Yusuf Halilu in its ruling on the preliminary objections strikes out Hon. Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade petition seeking disqualification of Governor Dapo Abiodun on grounds of submitting false academic qualification.

    The Tribunal ruled that the issue of information about academic qualification in Abiodun sworn affidavit had been laid to rest by the Appeal court, and so, petitioner can’t be allowed to resurrect or open same matter at the Tribunal since the Appellate court had deemed it “statue barred.”

    The Tribunal noted it would stand by the decision of the Appellate court, adding that the Petitioner also filed the application challenging Abiodun’s qualification outside the window of time allowed.

    The Tribunal then proceeded to read the main judgement which still ongoing as at the time of filing the report.

    Details shortly…

  • JUST IN: Tribunal uphold Ayade’s victory as Cross River governor

    The Cross River Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Calabar has affirmed the victory of Ben Ayade of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Ayade described the tribunal judgement as a mere reaffirmation of his resounding victory at the March 9, 2019 governorship poll.

    The governor, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Christian Ita, said he was not surprised at the verdict since his victory was never in doubt.

    “As I did when I won the governorship election of March 9, by dedicating my victory to God, the great people of Cross River State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) family, let me once again rededicate today’s tribunal verdict which explicitly reinforced the will of the people to them.

    “I had no doubt that I would emerge victorious at the tribunal. I have never lost faith or confidence in our judicial system.

    “I was very confident that the tribunal would be diligent and upright in determining the petitions brought before it and it did just that today and I am happy, Cross Riverians are happy and I am sure that even the petitioners will be happy that the tribunal has acquitted itself.”

    Insisting that the affirmation of his election by the tribunal will further embolden him to deliver on his campaign promises, Ayade said: “Today’s judgement is no doubt a call for a redoubling of effort, energy, kinetics and gusto to consolidate on what my administration started four years ago, which is the aggressive industrialization of the state.”

    Details shortly…