Court of appeal in Abuja has affirmed the election of Ahmadu Fintiri (candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party {PDP}), Adamawa governor, dismissing the petition filed by governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Umar Ardo.
Gatekeepers News reports that Ardo and SDP filed a petition at the state governorship election tribunal after Fintiri was declared winner of the poll.
The petitioner had sought the nullification of Fintiri’s election on the grounds that there was substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act, corrupt practices, threats and violence during the voting exercise.
Nevertheless, three-man panel led by Justice Theodora Uloho, dismissed the petition for being incompetent and not properly filed.
Justice Uloho said, “The petition is incongruous and not properly instituted before the tribunal. The petitioners are not certain about what they want.’’
Ardo went further to appeal against the tribunal’s judgement.
In a court of appeal judgement on Tuesday, Justice Ugochukwu Ogaku agreed with the findings of the tribunal.
Justice Ogaku held that the appellants did not prove the allegations of corrupt practices and non-compliance to the Electoral Act, against INEC.
He said there was no basis to grant the appeal.
The court held, “This appeal is bereft of merit. The decision of the tribunal dismissing the petition is hereby affirmed.”
