THE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNALS IN KATSINA AND NASARAWA STATES HAVE DISMISSED SUITS FILED BY PDP CANDIDATES CHALLENGING THE ELECTION OF GOVERNOR AMINU MASARI AND HIS NASARAWA COUNTERPART, ABDULLAHI SULE.
IN THE CASE OF THE KATSINA TRIBUNAL, THE JUDGES HAD A SPLIT DECISION OF TWO TO ONE, WITH THE TRIBUNAL RULING THAT THE PETITIONER FAILED TO PROVE THE ALLEGATION OF SUBSTANTIAL NON COMPLIANCE TO THE ELECTORAL ACT IN THE CONDUCT OF THE ELECTION.
BUT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRIBUNAL, JUSTICE ALLI JOS, IN A DISSENTING JUDGEMENT ALLOWED THE PETITION AND ORDERED A FRESH ELECTION IN THE STATE.
MEANWHILE IN NASARAWA STATE, AFTER OVER 8 HOURS OF THOROUGH REVIEW OF PROCEEDINGS, THE TRIBUNAL, UPHELD THE VICTORY OF GOVERNOR ABDULLAHI SULE, AFFIRMING THAT HE SCORED THE HIGHEST VOTE CAST.
THE JUDGES DISMISSED THE ALLEGATIONS OF NONE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ELECTORAL ACT, OVER VOTING, UNDUE ALLOTMENT OF VOTES, DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF VOTERS, WIDESPREAD IRREGULARITIES, AND VIOLENCE RAISED BY THE PETITIONER.
MEANWHILE A SIMILAR VERDICT WAS RECORDED IN IMO STATE WHERE THE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNAL ALSO DISMISSED THE PETITIONS CHALLENGING THE VICTORY OF GOVERNOR EMEKA IHEDIOHA OVER FAILURE OF THE PETITIONER TO DISCHARGE THE BURDEN OF PROOF IN HIS SUIT.
THE TRIBUNAL SAYS SENATOR HOPE UZODINMA WAS UNABLE TO PROVE TO THE TRIBUNAL HIS CLAIM THAT HIS RESULTS WERE EXCLUDED FROM THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE ELECTION.
THE TRIBUNAL SAYS WITNESSES WERE DISCREDITED UNDER CROSS EXAMINATION AND THAT THEY ALL CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO SIGNATURE OF THE PRESIDING OFFICERS ON THE DOCUMENTS THEY TENDERED AS THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION IN THE VARIOUS UNITS IN THE STATE.
SENATOR HOPE UZODINMA OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS HAD APPROACHED THE TRIBUNAL CLAIMING THAT GOVERNOR IHEDIOHA DID NOT MEET THE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT TO BE DECLARED GOVERNOR AND THAT THERE WAS NO SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE TO THE LAW IN DECLARING HIM GOVERNOR.
GOVERNOR IHEDIOHA ON HIS PART HAD ASKED THE TRIBUNAL TO DISMISS THE PETITION FOR LACKING IN MERIT.
(C) Control 2019.
