Tribunal Upholds Fintiri’s Victory In Adamawa, Throws Out SDP’s Petition

The Adamawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Dr Umar Ardo, challenging the election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the incumbent Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.

Ardo had filed a petition before the tribunal after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Fintiri as the winner of the March 18 governorship election.

Ardo, in his petition listed INEC, Fintiri and 16 others as respondents and alleged that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act.

The petitioner further alleged that the exercise conducted by the 1st respondent (Fintiri) was marred by corrupt practices (bribery), threats and violence. He therefore sought the nullification of the entire exercise.

In response, the 1st to 4th respondents, told the tribunal that the petition is statute barred and  cannot be entertained by tribunal. They further claimed that the petition is not supported with evidence and was not filed in compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act.

In her judgement, the chairman of the tribunal, T. O. Uloho, declared that the petition is incompetent, defective, incongruous and not properly instituted before the tribunal. She added that the petitioners are not certain with what they want.

Justice Uloho, stated that the petitioners had lumped the grounds of corrupt practices and non compliance with the Electoral Act as well as failed to file written statements of names of witnesses they intended to call.

She further declared that the allegation of corrupt practices must be proved with cogent and credible evidence and failure to do so rendered the petition without any probative value, worthless and lifeless.

She dismissed the petition and awarded the sum of N200, 000 in favour of INEC, Fintiri, Prof. Kaletapwa and PDP against the petitioners.