Tribunal strikes out petition filed by PDP, Adokwe against Al-Makura

The National and State House of Assembly Petition Tribunal
sitting in Lafia, on Friday, struck out the petition filed by the
Peoples Democratic Party and Senator Suleiman Adokwe, challenging
the declaration of Senator Tanko Al-Almakura of the All
Progressives Congress as the winner of the Nassarawa South
Senatorial seat.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the election was held on
March 9, 2019 across the senatorial district.

Adokwe, a three-time Senator from the state, challenged the
election on account of the alleged unlawful declaration of
Al-Makura as the winner of the poll and claimed that the polls did
not comply with provisions of the Electoral Act 2010.

He had also alleged intimidation of voters, unlawful
cancellation of votes and malpractice during the election.

In a unanimous judgment, read by its chairman, Justice David
Ugoh, the tribunal held that the petitioner failed to prove that
the respondent had not scored the highest lawful votes at the
election.

He held that the petitioner also failed to prove non-compliance
with the Electoral Act, how voters were prevented from voting, the
illegal cancellation of results and how alleged malpractices were
carried out.

Ugoh explained that the petitioner also failed to provide
witnesses from the various polling units to prove the allegations,
instead brought a witness who was not a polling unit agent.

He, therefore, said that the burden of proof lay with the
petitioner.

“Hence he failed to prove that, we, therefore, uphold the result
declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission.”

Ugoh said that the petition was lacking in merit.

Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the petitioner, Israel
Usman, said they were displeased with the judgment and would study
it to decide their next line of action.

(NAN)