The Court of Appeal
sitting in Abuja on Thursday affirmed the election of the Gombe State Governor,
Inuwa Yahaya.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared
Yahaya the winner of the governorship election after scoring 342,821 votes to
beat his closest rival Jibrin Barde of the Peoples Democratic Party who polled
233,131 votes.
Displeased with the outcome of the election, the PDP alleged
that Yahaya was not re-elected by a majority of lawful votes.
The party also alleged that multiple thumb printing and
ballot box stuffing were carried out across various polling units in nine out
of the 11 local government areas of the state to favour Yahaya.
But the state governorship election petition tribunal
dismissed the petitions filed by the party and Barde.
The three-man panel headed by Justice S.B. Belgore struck
out the matter, saying that it was a pre-election issue.
The tribunal declared that the deputy governor met the
minimum requirement to run in the election.
Not satisfied with the tribunal’s verdict, Barde and the PDP
approached the appeal court.
Reading the lead judgment on Thursday, Justice T. N
Orji-Abadua upheld the governor’s victory and dismissed the appeal by the PDP
and its candidate, Barde.
Orji-Abadua said the issues in the appeal were resolved in
the favour of the respondent.
“This appeal lacks merit. All the issues are resolved in
favour of the respondent and against the appellant. No order as to cost. The
judgment of the lower tribunal is hereby affirmed, ” she held.
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