……. upholds election of 2 SDP lawmakers in Nasarawa
The National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting at Osogbo on Saturday nullified the election of Mr Awoyeye Jeremiah (PDP- Ife Central).
The nullification followed a petition filed by Mr Adejobi Johnson of the All Progressive Congress (APC) challenging INEC’s declaration of Jeremiah as duly elected on March 18.
Johnson prayed the court to nullify the election citing failure on the part of INEC to apply the principle of margin of lead in declaring a winner at election
Having sacked Jeremiah, the tribunal ordered INEC to conduct fresh elections in 26 polling units in the constituency.
In the unanimous judgment of the three-man tribunal, led by Justice .V. Eboreime, it ruled that Johnson proved that INEC did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act (2022).
Eboreime said the manual for election used to declare Jeremiah as the winner was questionable.
Speaking after the judgment, INEC’s counsel Mr Vilba Kintai, and Mr Nurudeen Kareem counsel to Jeremiah, said they would appeal against the judgment.
Meanwhile, another Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Lafia, has affirmed the election of Mr David Onarigu as duly elected member representing Udege/Loko constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.
The tribunal also upheld the election of Mr Saidu Gude as the duly elected member of Uke/Karshi state constituency for the March 18th election.
The three-member panel led by Justice Francisca Nnang in separate judgments on Saturday in Lafia, which lasted for about two hours each, dismissed the petitions for lacking in merit.
The candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) for Udege/Loko constituency, Mr Ahmed Tanko, and his party had challenged Onarigu’s victory at the tribunal.
The candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) for Uke/Karshi constituency, Mr Abdulrasheed Haruna, and his party also challenged Gude’s victory at the tribunal.
The petitioners prayed the tribunal to nullify the election over non-proper inclusion of their party logo as well as non-compliance to the Electoral Act in the conduct of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the exercise.
The judge said that the NNPP candidates failed to substantially proof their cases and thereby dismissed the cases in their entirety.
“The court hereby dismissed the case in its entirety,” the judge said.
Reacting to the judgment, Onarigu dedicated his victory at the tribunal to God and to the people of the constituency.
“I want to thank God for this victory at tribunal again. This has affirmed the mandate given to me by the people of Udege/Loko constituency on March 18th election,” he said.
The lawmaker promised to provide more dividends of democracy to the people of the constituency.
On his part, Gude appreciated God for the victory at the tribunal.
He also thanked his constituents for their prayers and support while promising not to fail them in discharging his duties. (NAN)
