The Election Petition Tribunal in Yola has received petitions from candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) seeking to nullify the recent Ganye House of Assembly by‑election. The petitioners, Buba Mohammed Joda of the PDP and Benjamin Brandford of the LP, contend that the election, held on 16 August 2025, was marred by non‑compliance with the Electoral Act. The by‑election resulted in Misa Musa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) being declared the winner, a result Joda and Brandford argue is invalid.
Joda specifically cited sections 51(2) and (3) of the Electoral Act 2022, claiming they were not observed and therefore the return of Misa Musa as the member for Ganye Constituency should be set aside. He has asked the tribunal to order Musa to surrender the certificate of return issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and to order a rerun in five polling units where alleged over‑voting occurred.
Brandford, through his counsel Samson Bukar, alleged that the entire election was invalid because votes cast in some polling units exceeded the number of accredited voters. He seeks an order to annul Musa’s certificate of return and to compel INEC to conduct a fresh by‑election for the whole constituency, with his name included among the candidates.
The petitions underscore concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the necessity of strict adherence to the Electoral Act. The tribunal’s decision will be pivotal in determining the legitimacy of the by‑election results and the representation of Ganye in the House of Assembly. As the tribunal deliberates, the people of Ganye await a resolution that ensures their voices are heard and their votes count, highlighting the importance of upholding electoral laws and maintaining transparency and credibility in elections.
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