The National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Minna High court complex, has upheld the election of Senator Mohammed Sani Musa of All Progressives Congress (APC) as Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District.
Senator Musa was dragged to the Tribunal by Barrister Ibrahim Isyaku SAN of the People Democratic party (PDP) who challenged the lawmaker’s electoral victory.
The petitioner, in his petition filed on June 7, 2023, claimed the election was marred with unprecedented irregularities, over voting, denial of eligible voters the right to cast their votes in seven out of the nine local government areas that make up the senatorial district.
He further alleged that the first respondent in the petition the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) did not conduct the election in conformity with the provision of the 2022 Electoral Act, arguing that the second respondent’s election should be nullified as he did not score the majority of the vote cast.
He also claimed in his petition that in six out of the nine local government areas of the Senatorial district BIVAS machines were not used in polling units and most of the voters were not accredited to vote.
The petitioner sought, among other prayers, that the February 25 2023 election of the Niger East Senatorial district result sheet were not signed and prayed the tribunal to set aside the election and declare him the rightful and lawful winner, having scored the majority of the vote cast at most of polling units in seven out of the nine local government of the Senatorial district.
In its judgement, the tribunal ruled that the petitioner failed to prove all the allegations raised in his petition and dismissed it for lack of merit.
Senator Musa, however, said the judgement was a commitment to upholding justice.
“I would also like to express my appreciation to my dear brother Ibrahim Isiaku SAN for pursuing the case with dignity and civility. Your dedication to the legal process is commendable” he said.
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