Kogi Election Petitions Tribunal Reserves Judgment Till January 18

The National and State House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal for Kogi State, sitting in Abuja, Monday, reserved its judgment in the Ofu State Constituency election to January 18.

Mr. Salifu Idachaba of All Progressives Congress, APC, Ofu State Constituency, had challenged his loss to Mr. Friday Alih-Adoyi of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in a petition before the tribunal.

Idachaba had challenged the victory of Alih-Adoyi, declared winner in the February 20, 2016 and the subsequent July 23, 2016 supplementary polls declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Idachaba’s petition alleged injustice against his candidacy and called for the nullification of the polls, while calling for a fresh election.

According to the petitioner, he was excluded from participating in the February 20 election and the July 23 supplementary election for Ofu State Constituency as a result of some misunderstandings within his party.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Catherine-Ifeoma Nwobodo, had reserved judgment after receiving the final written addresses of counsel to the contending parties.

The tribunal also adjourned for judgment to January 18, the petition filed by Mr Abdulrahman Abubakar of APC challenging the election of Isaac Alfa as a Senator for Kogi East Senatorial District on the platform of PDP.

It will be recalled that a recent judgment by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, recently sacked Alfa, following a pre-election appeal against him by Senator Atai Aidoko-Usman, also of PDP.

The tribunal also adjourned judgment to February 6, the petition filed against Mr. Haruna Idoko-Musa of APC, representing Idah State Constituency of Kogi.

Mr. Ukubile Ochijenu-Acharu of PDP had challenged the election of Musa as illegal and not in accordance with the Electoral Act.

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