The Taraba state governorship
tribunal on Friday granted the prayer of the All Progressives Congress (APC),
seeking to be re-listed in the governorship petition that had earlier been
dismissed.
The Tribunal sitting at the FCT
High Court, Apo had on July 10, dismissed the petition filed by Abubakar
Danladi of the APC, challenging the re-election of Gov. Darius Ishaku of the
PDP in the March 9 governorship election in the state.
While delivering his ruling, the
chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice M. O. Adewara held that the
petition filed by the APC (second petitioner) had merit and as such is granted.
He also stated that according to
the electoral act, an oral application for withdrawal of the petition made by
counsel for the Petitioners, Alex Akoja, was supposed to be properly documented
and served on all parties involved in the petition.
Adewara further adjourned hearing
in the matter until Aug. 15.
The APC and Danladi had
approached the Tribunal, challenging the victory of Gov. Ishaku.
The petitioners had claimed that
the governor was not duly elected in the March 9 election by majority of lawful
votes cast, adding that Ishaku’s reelection was invalid by reason of
non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).
The dismissal of the petition
followed an application made by counsel for the petitioners, Alex Akoja, which
was predicated on the July 5 Supreme Court’s judgment which disqualified
Danladi as APC candidate in the governorship election.
Arguing the motion earlier,
counsel for APC, Ishaka Dikko SAN informed that the motion seeking to re-list
the petition was brought pursuant to Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution as
well as Paragraph 29 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act 2010, as
amended.
While saying that APC was not
disputing Danladi’s right to have his name struck out of the petition, the
senior advocate stated that the withdrawal of the petition had affected the
party’s right to proceed with the petition.
Dikko stated that what was very
clear was while withdrawing the petition on July 10, there was no formal
application by motion as mandatory prescribed by the Electoral Act.
Responding to Danladi’s counter
affidavit against the motion, the APC counsel stated that there was no letter
from the party authorizing the withdrawal.
He urged the tribunal to
discountenance the counter affidavit for the fact that it was filed outside the
seven days prescribed for filing a counter affidavit by the Electoral Act.
Arguing against the APC’s motion,
counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Solomon Ameh
SAN stated that the withdrawal of the petition was a matter relating to
procedure.
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