The Gombe State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has affirmed the re-election of Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Delivering judgement on Tuesday in Gombe, the three-man panel headed by Justice S.B. Belgore, dismissed the petitions filed by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Jibril Barde and that of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and its candidate, Nafiu Bala, difficult Yahaya’s victory within the March 18 election.
Mr Belgore mentioned that the petition of the ADC and its candidate lacked benefit.
The ADC was difficult the declaration of Mr Yahaya over an alleged multiplicity and variations within the association of names on the certificates of his deputy with out accompanying affidavits to show authenticity.
The court docket struck out the matter, saying that it was a pre-election concern, including that the deputy had met the minimal requirement to run.
“I affirm that the petition by the ADC against return of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya as the duly elected governor of Gombe State lacks merit in all front and that the election of the first and second respondents as winners of the March 18th guber polls is valid and lawful,” the decide mentioned.
On the petition of the PDP, the tribunal described it as “vague and baseless”.
The PDP had alleged that Yahaya was not re-elected by majority of the lawful votes, alleging that a number of thumb printing and poll field stuffing have been carried out throughout varied polling items in 9 out of the 11 native authorities areas of the state to favour Inuwa Yahaya.
The tribunal, subsequently, struck out the petition as a result of failure of the petitioners to supply witnesses and proof to again their claims.
The INEC had declared Mr Yahaya winner of the election with 342,821 votes to beat his closest rival, PDP’s Jibrin Barde, who polled 233,131.
NAN
