Tribunal: Court Affirms Senator Elisha Abbo’s Election

The election of Senator Elisha Abbo for Adamawa North Senatorial District has been affirmed by the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal for Adamawa State.

The Tribunal gave the ruling stating that the petitioners lack the ability to prove their case.

The petitioners, Sen Garba Binta Masi and the All Progressives Congress (APC), had based their petition on claims of over-voting, non-use of card readers, and other instances of ‘noncompliance with the Electoral Act.’

The petitioners had asked the tribunal to cancel the election of the Senator and call for a supplementary election in polling units where the alleged infractions took place.

Abbo and the Peoples Democratic Party countered the petition stating that the election which produced Abbo was conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act.

The Chairman of the election petition tribunal, Justice Suleiman Akanbi, in his ruling said the petitioners failed to produce concrete evidence to back their allegations of lack of compliance with the Electoral Act.

“The witnesses did not help the case,” he said, adding that the petitioners fell short of Section 181 of the Evidence Act which requires a petitioner to provide convincing proof.”

“He who alleges must provide proof,” he concluded, and dismissed the petition.”

Sen Binta Masi Garba while speaking through her counsel stated that she would appeal the judgement.

Abbo said, “The voice of the people is the voice of God. People have spoken through their ballot, and today, a court of competent jurisdiction has affirmed the people’s choice. I am elated.”