Kogi Election Tribunal Throws Out Former Governor Idris Wada’s Petition

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Governor of Kogi

By Sadiq Umar – The Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja has dismissed the petition filed by former State Governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Idris Wada, challenging the victory of the incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello.

Governor of Kogi
Governor of Kogi

The former Governor is praying the Tribunal that having emerged the first runners-up of the November 21 poll, to sack Governor Bello and returned him as the valid winner.

But the Tribunal ruled Tuesday that the former Governor lacks locus standi to question the nomination of Bello since he was not a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) which nominated Bello.

Justice Halima Mohammed who led the three-man lower panel Tuesday held that the petition jointly filed by Wada; his running mate; Sunday Awoniyi as well as their party, the PDP, lacked merit.

The lower court earlier in its ruling struck out the plaintiffs’ petition and upheld the notice of preliminary objection raised by Governor Bello, his party and INEC against the petition.

She ruled that the petitioners lacked locus standi to challenge the nomination of Bello as the APC candidate in the election. The panel also held that there was no merit in the entire petition to support the prayers it sought against the sitting Governor.

On candidates’ nomination, Justice Muhammed held that the nomination and sponsorship of Bello as the governorship candidate of his party was strictly a party issue.

The court affirmed that neither the petitioners, the tribunal, nor any other person who did not participate in the primary of the party ha‎s the constitutional right to query the validity of the party candidates’ nomination.

The court supported its ruling stating that since Governor Bello contested in the August 29, 2015 primary of his party and emerged as the first runner-up, his substitution due to Audu’s death, was valid in the face of the law.

Citing reference from the Supreme Court, Justice Mohammed held that the votes recorded in the November 21 election belonged to the various political parties.

It would be recalled late Audu’s running mate, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, Monday also lost in his petition, which is challenging Governor Bello’s substitution by APC and his return by INEC as the duly elected Governor.

The Kogi Governorship poll first held on Saturday, November 21, 2015 was declared inconclusive

Before then, the ruling APC candidate, late Prince Abubakar Audu who was in clear lead was announced dead.

On Sunday, November 22, 2015, INEC later in the day declared the exercise as inconclusive.

In the substantive election, late Audu of the APC polled a total of 240,857 votes as against 199,514 votes which the petitioner polled.

 

 

 

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