Tribunal Nullifies Gombe Speaker’s Election, Orders Rerun In 30 Days

The Tribunal for State Assembly elections sitting in Gombe State has nullified the election of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Abubakar Leggerowo.

The speaker was elected under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to represent Akko central constituency.

Leggerowo’s election was challenged by his main rival and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Alhaji Bashir Abdullahi.

LEADERSHIP reports that Leggerowo is at present serving as speaker of the house for the second term and was recently elected north east vice chairman of the conference of speakers of state houses of assembly of Nigeria.

The tribunal presided over by Justice Michael Ugar nullified the speaker’s election on the ground that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) canceled votes cast in some polling units in the constituency.

The petitioner had complained to the court that the development made the defendant emerge victorious in the polls.

Ugar ruled that the cancellation of the results of units 001, 024 and 014 of Kumo east in Akko local government area of the state by INEC was erroneous and ordered the electoral commission to conduct rerun election within the next 30 days to determine the real winner of the assembly seat.

The speaker expressed dissatisfaction over the verdict and vowed to appeal against it as soon as possible.