Tribunal affirms the election of member representing Chanchaga By Uthman Yawa-Siraja
The National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal (NAEPT), sitting in Minna, has dismissed the petition filed against Mohammed Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by Aminu Garba of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The petitioner, who contested the State House of Assembly Election of Chanchaga State Constituency on March 18, 2023, had approached the tribunal challenging the election of the respondent.
The petitioner further claimed that the respondent did not score the lawful votes at seven polling units in Tudun Wada Ward of Chanchaga Constituency, as the elections in the unit were marred with irregularities and other electoral malpractices.
Aminu Garba has filed the petition requesting the tribunal to nullify the election of Mohammed Abubakar on the ground of non-compliance with the electoral act 2022.
The petitioner also requested the withdrawal of the certificate of return already issued to the respondent by the first respondent, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), and to declare him the winner.
He claimed in his petition that the form EC8 was not duly signed by the presiding officer, which, according to him, rendered the election invalid.
After reviewing the submissions of the legal teams of both parties, Justice Mojisola Ishaq Sule asserted that the petitioner failed to prove the allegations concerning the non-compliance with the provisions of the electoral act as claimed.
She then dismissed the petition, describing all the evidence and submission tendered before the tribunal as hearsay, which, according to her, could not hold water, and thereafter affirmed the election of Hon. Mohammed Abubakar.