The National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Makurdi upheld the elections of three state lawmakers from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday.
Justices Usman Mohammed and Saliu Zubayr made two separate judgments, stating that the petitioners could not provide sufficient evidence to overturn the elections. In the Ogbadibo State Constituency election, Justice Mohammed determined that the Petitioners, Patrick Enemari and the PDP, were unable to prove their allegations of malpractice during the election.
Additionally, Justice Mohammed noted that the petitioners did not call upon necessary witnesses to support their claims of overvoting and result cancellations in six polling units during the election.
In the March 18 election, the court confirmed Agada Oche from the APC party as the winner of the Ogbadibo State Constituency election. Mr. Mohammed imposed a fine of N150,000 against the petitioners in favor of Oche, APC, and INEC. Similarly, Simon Gabo from the APC party was also declared the elected representative for the Mata State Constituency, and his return by the INEC was upheld.
Justice Mohammed noted that only one witness statement from the petitioner’s witnesses was filed alongside the petition, and others were filed out of time. Therefore, Mr. Mohammed upheld the return of Mr. Gabo.
Elijah Anayagher and PDP had filed a petition against Emmanuel Shimawua from the APC party, challenging his return by the INEC. However, Justice Zubayr confirmed the election of Shimawua as the winner of the Kyan State Constituency in the March 18 election. The judge held that Terkimbi Adeiyongu and PDP also lost as they failed to prove their case of forgery.
The petitioners alleged that the respondent forged his certificate, but only tendered the respondent’s Form EC9 to prove their case. The court held that the petitioners needed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the respondent forged his certificate with relevant documents and witnesses.