Tribunal: PDP, APC Wins In Plateau State

The victory of Mr. Abubakar Mohammed during the February 23 National House of Assembly Election was upheld by the election petition tribunal sitting in Jos, Plateau State on Monday.

The Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Mrs. Zainab Dogo, had petitioned the tribunal, challenging the outcome of the March 9 re-run State House of Assembly election.

The PDP candidate had claimed that the election was marred with irregularities, ranging from over voting and noncompliance with the Electoral Act.

The opposition party called on the tribunal to declare its candidate the winner or order a fresh election.

The tribunal chairman, Justice Theophilus Nzeugwu, in a unanimous decision, described the petition as incompetent and lacking in merit.

“Consequently, the petition, which is incompetent, is hereby dismissed for lack of merit,” he said.

The second arm of the tribunal, chaired by Justice Joy Nwoye, also upheld the election of Mr. Balance Fwangje (PDP-Mangu South), dismissing the petition filed by Mr. Habila Milaham of the APC.

Justice Nwoye, while delivering judgment stated that Milaham and APC could not prove the allegations of corrupt practices and noncompliance with the Electoral Act labelled against Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and PDP in the March 9 rerun election.

The APC candidate had petitioned the Tribunal to declare him the winner on the grounds that the election was marred with corrupt practices and noncompliance with the provisions of electoral laws.

He asked the tribunal to either declare him winner or order for a fresh election in areas affected by irregularities.

While upholding Fwangje’s victory, the tribunal held that the petitioners woefully failed to prove all the allegations raised and described the petition as “incompetent ” and “lacking in merit.”