Election Tribunal Confirms El-Rufai’s Victory

The governorship election tribunal sitting in Kaduna yesterday, upheld the election of Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai, and nullified the petition of his opponent in the last governorship polls.

The governorship candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in April polls, Polycarp Danladi had petitioned El-Rufai and All Progressives Congress (APC) at the tribunal on allegation that Governor El-Rufai was not duly elected in accordance with electoral act. The APGA candidate, through his counsel, Mr. Olumuyiwa Olowokure had therefore sought the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh governorship election in Kaduna in compliance with the electoral act.

Chairman of the Kaduna State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Adebayo Adebara, who delivered the judgment, which lasted for six hours, dismissed the petition on the ground that it lacked merit. However, Justice Adebara ordered the cancellation of votes cast for APC and PDP in the 7 wards of seven local government areas of Sanga, Kaura, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Kauru, Kachia and Kagarko, which did not, “ invalidate the election of the first respondent (El-Rufai).

At the time of filing this report, it was not clear whether the petitioner will appeal the judgement, but speaking to journalists shortly after the judgement, counsel to the petitioner said, “It depends on the next step my client wants to take”.