JUDGEMENT DAY: Tribunal upholds Agbu Kefas’ election as Taraba Governor

The Taraba State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has upheld the election of Governor Agbu Kefas of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Jalingo on Saturday affirmed the election of Dr. Agbu Kefas as the governor of Taraba State.

The three-man panel of justices led by Justice G. A. Sunmonu

dismissed the petition filed by the New Nigerian Peoples Party and its candidate, Prof. Sani Yahaya for lacking in merit and consequently dismissed it.

The petitioners; The New Nigeria Peoples Party and its candidate Prof. Sani Yahaya had instituted that petition against the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party and Kefas on the grounds of non-compliance to the provisions of the Electoral Act of 2022, citing overvoting, mutilation of result sheets and alleged violence in some polling units.

The panel of justices held that the petitioners who claimed to have scored the majority of lawful votes cast were inconsistent in their reliefs sought as they asked that the same election be declared invalid, yet valid to declare their candidate winner.

“The petitioners failed to prove allegations of over-voting as the witnesses they called failed to demonstrate or prove the allegation of over-voting. The witnesses also failed to prove that they were polling unit agents of the petitioners as most of them relied on hearsay evidence.

“There were contradictions in the statement of witnesses called by the petitioner. The witnesses gave inconsistent responses in their affidavit and oral testimony during cross-examination.

“Where there are conflicts in the pieces of evidence of witnesses, the tribunal cannot choose which one to use, but to reject all. The burden is on the petitioners to prove that the election was conducted in noncompliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

“The petitioner failed to prove their case to warrant the reliefs sought. The two issues formulated by the petitioners in their final written address are therefore resolved against them.

“The petition lacks merit, we accordingly reaffirm the election and return of Agbu Kefas as the duly elected Governor of Taraba State and parties are to bear their cost,” the tribunal ruled.

Counsels to the Governor Agbu Kefas and the Independent Electoral Commission both welcomed the judgment saying there was no reason for appeal by the petitioner.

The Deputy Governor of the state Aminu Alkali, who was at the court, called the petitioners to bring on board their developmental plans for the state so as to work together towards the progress and development of the state.

Our correspondent reports that the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate won in 11 Local Government Areas, the NNPP won 3 while the APC won in 2 Local Government Areas.

Following the judgement, jubilant party faithful took to the streets of Jalingo, the state capital to celebrate the victory of the governor at the tribunal.