By; ADAMA JOHN, Lokoja
National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Lokoja, has annulled the election of Senatir Jibrin Isah representing Kogi East Senatorial District on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) as it ordered a fresh election.
The verdict was handed down by the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Kemakolam Anthony Orjiako Monday in the judgment on the petition filed by Dr. Victor Adoji, Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the election victory of Isah.
The Tribunal granted all the prayers and grounds of the petition.
The election of Isah (Senate Committee Chairman on Customs Excise and Tarriffs) according to the Tribunal Chairman, was based on the grounds that elections were cancelled in some 94 polling units.
The Tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct supplement elections in the affected 94 polling units.
According to the Tribunal Chairman, Adoji, had through his Counsel, Mr Johnson Usman (SAN), challenged the return of Jibrin Isah on the ground that elections were cancelled in some polling units where the PVCs collected were more than the margin of his (Chocho’s) win.
The petitioners had prayed the tribunal to anull the election of Isah and order a supplementary election in the affected 94 polling units in the senatorial district.
He was optimistic that if the results were properly collated, he (Adoji) would have won the election.
In the unanimous judgment delivered on behalf of the three members of the Tribunal, Justice K.A. Orjiako upheld the submission of the petitioners’ counsel and annulled the return of Isah from the March 18, election and ordered for the withdrawal of his certificate of return.
“Since the PVCs collected in the 94 polling units is 59,730, while the margin of win is 26,922 votes, the Returning Officer ought to have declared the election inconclusive without making a return.
“Consequently, this honourable Tribunal hereby grants the reliefs sought by the Petitioners. We also set aside the Certificate of Return issued to Jibrin Isah.
“The tribunal hereby also order INEC to conduct a supplementary election in the affected polling units where election did not hold or cancelled in order to determine the winner,” justice Orjiako declared.
