A three-man election petition tribunal headed by Justice M. A. Sambo in a unanimous decision has affirmed the PDP candidate, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, as winner of the Cross River North senatorial election.
The tribunal, after a five-hour judgement, upheld Senator Jarigbe’s election today at its final sitting in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.
Prof Ben Ayade, former governor of the state had challenged Jarigbe’s victory at the tribunal in suit number EPT/CR/SEN/02/2023.
He had asked the tribunal to nullify the February 25, 2023 senatorial election for alleged malpractices and non-compliance with the electoral act.
The former governor also disputed the votes from about 377 polling units in the senatorial election.
The tribunal dismissed Ayade’s petition stating that he had inadequate evidence to invalidate the election.
The tribunal also struck out some evidence, particularly the presidential result sheet presented by the petitioners for being contrary to what they pleaded in their written statement on oath.
