The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ruled that
the duly elected governor of Taraba state is Senator Aisha Jummai
Alhassan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and not Darius Ishaku of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Daily Sun reports that the court gave the verdict today, December 21, in support of a ruling of the state election petitions tribunal which nullified Ishaku’s victory in the April 11 and 25 polls in the state.
Meanwhile, NAN reports that the Appeal Court reserved judgment in an appeal filed by Ishaku against the nullification of his electoral victory by a tribunal.
According to Justice Abdul Aboki, the court would announce the date for the judgment in the appeal later.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on April 13, declared the governorship election in Taraba state inconclusive due to widespread irregularities. After a rerun on April 25, Ishaku was declared winner.
The election petition tribunal had on Saturday, November 7, held that all votes in Ishaku’s favour were wasted as the PDP did not conduct primaries hence Ishaku was not chosen by delegates of the party to represent it which was in violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act. The tribunal ruled that Alhassan was the rightful winner of the polls.
Following the ruling of the tribunal, Ishaku challenged the verdict at the Court of Appeal.
Solo Akuma (SAN), counsel to the PDP and Joseph Daudu (SAN), counsel to INEC urged the court to allow Ishaku’s appeal.
Daudu said the electoral commission was of the view that the PDP candidate was duly qualified to participate in the said election.
However, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), counsel to Alhassan, filed a cross appeal, urging the court to dismiss Ishaku’s appeal and uphold the tribunal’s judgment. He said INEC had no legal authority to approve a candidate as either qualified or not.
Mahmud Magaji, counsel to APC, said his party was concerned about the qualification of Mr. Ishaku in the said election.
Alhassan is currently serving as the minister of women affairs after being nominated and sworn in by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Daily Sun reports that the court gave the verdict today, December 21, in support of a ruling of the state election petitions tribunal which nullified Ishaku’s victory in the April 11 and 25 polls in the state.
Meanwhile, NAN reports that the Appeal Court reserved judgment in an appeal filed by Ishaku against the nullification of his electoral victory by a tribunal.
According to Justice Abdul Aboki, the court would announce the date for the judgment in the appeal later.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on April 13, declared the governorship election in Taraba state inconclusive due to widespread irregularities. After a rerun on April 25, Ishaku was declared winner.
The election petition tribunal had on Saturday, November 7, held that all votes in Ishaku’s favour were wasted as the PDP did not conduct primaries hence Ishaku was not chosen by delegates of the party to represent it which was in violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act. The tribunal ruled that Alhassan was the rightful winner of the polls.
Following the ruling of the tribunal, Ishaku challenged the verdict at the Court of Appeal.
Solo Akuma (SAN), counsel to the PDP and Joseph Daudu (SAN), counsel to INEC urged the court to allow Ishaku’s appeal.
Daudu said the electoral commission was of the view that the PDP candidate was duly qualified to participate in the said election.
However, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), counsel to Alhassan, filed a cross appeal, urging the court to dismiss Ishaku’s appeal and uphold the tribunal’s judgment. He said INEC had no legal authority to approve a candidate as either qualified or not.
Mahmud Magaji, counsel to APC, said his party was concerned about the qualification of Mr. Ishaku in the said election.
Alhassan is currently serving as the minister of women affairs after being nominated and sworn in by President Muhammadu Buhari.
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