The Election Petition Tribunal in Yola has been petitioned by candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) to nullify the recent Ganye House of Assembly by-election. The candidates, Buba Mohammed Joda of the PDP and Benjamin Brandford of the LP, claim the election was marred by non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The by-election, held on August 16, 2025, saw Misa Musa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) declared the winner. However, Joda and Brandford argue that the election was flawed and have prayed the tribunal to annul the results. Joda specifically cited sections 51(2) and (3) of the Electoral Act, 2022, as not being complied with, rendering the return of Misa Musa as the member representing Ganye Constituency invalid.
Joda has asked the tribunal to order Misa Musa to return the certificate of return issued to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and to conduct a re-run election in five polling units where over-voting allegedly occurred. On the other hand, Brandford alleged that the election was invalid across the entire Ganye constituency due to non-compliance with the Electoral Act. He claimed that votes cast at some polling units exceeded the number of accredited voters.
Through his counsel, Samson Bukar, Brandford sought an order to set aside the certificate of return issued to Misa Musa and to compel INEC to conduct a fresh by-election in the entire constituency, with his name included in the list of candidates. The petitions highlight concerns over the integrity of the electoral process and the need for adherence to the Electoral Act.
The outcome of the tribunal’s decision will be crucial in determining the legitimacy of the by-election results and the representation of the Ganye constituency in the House of Assembly. As the tribunal deliberates on the petitions, the people of Ganye await a resolution that will ensure their voices are heard and their votes count. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding electoral laws and ensuring the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
