On May 23, 2020, the majority judgment delivered by Justice Kaigama upheld Bello’s election on the grounds that the petitioners failed to prove allegations of rigging and other malpractices in the November 16, 2019 governorship election. Kogi Nigeria
However, from the pool of 24 candidates and political parties that contested the November 16, 2019 election, three parties and candidates are locked in post-election legal battles to claim and reclaim the mandate.
A third of the litigation surrounding the conduct of the election, though a pre-election matter, which emanated from Action Peoples Party , also has been struck out. Like Akpoti, for Wada and PDP, the battle is far from being over. The bone of contention in the PDP camp was that the election was characterised by massive over voting, illegal thumb printing and state-sponsored violence, among others. The icing on the cake was the admission of forensic evidence ordered by the Supreme Court, having been earlier rejected by the tribunal.
In his reaction, Wada, buoyed by a minority judgment, which called for the cancellation of the election and rerun in seven local governments, appealed to the people of the state to be rest assured that the mandate would be retrieved. The dissenting judge also agreed that the petitioners had proved the violence during the election through Exhibits P146 and P147, which were video evidence that showed the use of Helicopter to intimidate voters and gory pictures of dead bodies.
The committee said since casting of votes had been concluded at the time of the attack, the process of counting of the ballot was later concluded at another venue with all the agents present and witnessed by the INEC. “The primary election that produced Engr Musa Wada as the PDP flag-bearer was fraught with irregularities, such that an hour-long downpour and sporadic gunshots, which led to the delegates scampering for safety, cannot be said to be fair enough to produce a candidate. Neither the claimant Alhaji Abubakar Idris nor the defendant, Engr. Musa Wada can lay claim to being the authentic flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party since the primary was inconclusive….
“Every order made by the trial court that there was no primary election and that the appellant was not a candidate in the election is hereby set aside,” the court held.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
COVID-19: NMA petitions Buhari, chides Kogi govt
Read more »
Kogi to honour 5 NYSC Members for outstanding performanceHe explained that the NYSC Award Committee had noted their staling performance right from the orientation camp, and they had also distinguished themselves in their places of primary assignment and contributed impactfully in viable community development ...
Read more »
COVID-19 : NMA writes President Buhari over situation in Kogi state, seeks interventionThe Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has expressed worries over the way and manner the Kogi State government is handling the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to call the State Governor and his officials to order immediately and also issue an order granting unfettered access and protection to NCDC officials into Kogi State and do all that is necessary to contain COVID-19.
Read more »
Outrage over Kogi denial of 2 Covid-19 infectionsKogi’s denial of two confirmed cases of Covid-19 sparked outrage among doctors on Friday. The Nigerian Medical Association issued an SOS asking the presidency to call Kogi to order. READ: Kog…
Read more »
NMA accuses Kogi governor of endangering health workers, citizensThe Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Friday described the attitude and response of Kogi State Government towards the COVID-19 pandemic as ‘ignorantly meddlesome and irresponsible.’
Read more »
Tension mounts in Kogi as COVID-19 row deepensThe Kogi State Government is unrelenting in disputing claims by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the family of a COVID-19 patient of the existence of the deadly virus in the state.
Read more »