The National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunals sitting in Bauchi recently dismissed 6 election petitions brought before them by APC as a party and defeated candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The two tribunals while delivering judgments on the petitions filed before them by APC and their defeated candidates in the last general elections, dismissed the petitions for lacking in merit.
The two tribunals headed by their Chairmen, Justices Folabi Ajayi and A I Ebong respectively, passed judgments in their separate courts within the Bauchi State High Court Complex along Yandoka road.
Our correspondent in Bauchi reports that, at the National Assembly Elections Petition at High Court Two, where the judgments were passed by Chairman of the three man panel, Justice A.I Ebong, journalists covering the election tribunals were denied access to the tribunal.
According to the staff and security apparatus at the entrance of the courtroom, they were instructed not to allow journalists inside the courtroom.
The five petitions dismissed by the NASS Tribunal are those of Bauchi Central Senatorial seat between the defeated APC candidate, Uba Ahmed Nana (petitioner) and the winner, Sen Abdul Ahmed Ningi of the PDP joined by INEC, PDP as Respondents.
Also the Ningi/Warji Federal Constituency, between Abdulahi Sa’ ad Abdulkadir, Petitioner of APC against Adamu Hashimu Ranga, INEC, PDP as Respondents as well as the Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency, between Bashir Bello, Petitioner of APC and Mansur Manu Soro, INEC, PDP Respondents.
Others were, Misau/Dambam Federal Constituency between Sabo Bappayo Ahmed, petitioner of APC against Bappa Aliyu Misau of the PDP, INEC, Respondents and Katagum Federal Constituency, Gali Mohammed, Petitioner, APC against Auwal Gwallabe, PDP, INEC as Respondents.
The only State Assembly petition was for Dass State Assembly Constituency, between Bala Ali, the petitioner of APC and Ahmed Abdullahi ,INEC, PDP as Respondents.
The Tribunals in their separate judgments on the petitions, declared that the petitioners and their witnesses failed to prove their allegations beyond all reasonable doubts.
The tribunals averted that most of the witnesses statements presented were based on assumptions which is not admissible, citing section137, paragraph 6 of the 2022 Electoral Act.
When journalists contacted the leading Counsels to the petitioners, to comment on the judgments of the tribunals, he said they will have to meet with their clients first for the next line of actions.
The petitioners were awarded various sums of money ranging from N200,000 to N500 000 being fines imposed on the petitioners respectively.
However, the APC as a party has rejected the judgments delivered by the two tribunals against all its candidates who filed petitions against the declaration of INEC.
In reaction to the judgment, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in the State, Ali Adamu Jalla described the judgments as laughable, wondering how the party will lose all 6 petitions for the same reasons from two different tribunals.
He declared without hesitation that the APC will appeal the judgments, expressing hope and confidence that the APC candidates will get judgment at the higher court.
Ali Adamu Jalla said that the tribunals abandoned all the reasons for the petitions and introduced new things which they cannot understand, appealing to the party’s supporters to remain calm, peaceful, prayerful and hopeful.
