The Kogi State Governorship Election Tribunal has affirmed Governor Yahaya Bello as the Governor of Kogi State in a petition brought against it by Musa Wada of the People’s Democratic Party. The grounds of the election petition by Musa Wada are that the election consisted of so many irregularities, violence, ballot snatching and non-compliance with the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Musa Wada of the People’s Democratic Party called a total number of 32 witnesses to prove their claims against Governor Yahaya Bello and asked the tribunal to uphold the petition and declare Ibrahim Wada as the duly elected Governor of Kogi State.
On the other hand, Yahaya Bello and his lawyer told the tribunal that the petitioner (Musa Wada of the People’s Democractic Party) did not lay proper evidence to prove that the concluded election petition ought to be dismissed. The tribunal (two out of three judges) agreed with Yahaya Bello and his counsel and dismissed the petition on the grounds that the petitioner failed to prove the allegations he brought against the respondent. The dissenting judge however ordered that the election be re-conducted in the 7 local governments where there are allegations of thuggery, violence and the likes. A cost of one million naira was also awarded against PDP and Musa Wada to be paid to INEC, Governor Yahaya Bello and the All Progressive Congress. However, Musa Wada and the People’s Democratic Party have made their intentions known in going to the Appeal Court.
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