The East Kogi Senatorial Election Court sacked district representative senator Jibrin Isah on Tuesday, alleging that elections at 94 polling stations were cancelled.
The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to carry out supplementary elections in the 94 affected electoral units.
The President of the Court, KA Orjiako, who passed judgment on the petition filed by Victor Adoji, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 elections, agreed with Mr. Adoji’s sentences.
Mr. Adoji, through his lawyer, Johnson Usman (SAN), challenged the return of Mr. Isah from the Congress of all progressives (APC) based on the fact that the elections were canceled in some electoral units where the PVCs collected exceeded their margin of victory.
The petitioner had petitioned the court to annul the election of Mr. Isah, Chairman of the Senate Excise and Customs Duties Committee, on the grounds that elections in 94 polling stations were canceled and by-elections ordered in the 94 affected districts . electoral units in the senatorial district.
In issuing a unanimous court ruling, Mr. Orjiako agreed with Mr. Usman’s submission and ordered the withdrawal of his certificate of return.
“Since the PVCs collected in the 94 electoral units are 59,730, while the margin of victory is 26,922 votes, the scrutineer should have declared the elections inconclusive without making a statement.
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“Consequently, this honorable Court granted the reparations requested by the petitioners. We also set aside the Certificate of Return issued to Jibrin Isah.
“The court hereby also orders INEC to conduct a supplementary election in the affected electoral units where the elections were not held or were canceled to determine the winner,” stated Mr. Orjiako.
(YAYA)