Tribunal dismisses lawmaker’s petition against Adaji

The National and State Legislative Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, yesterday dismissed the petition brought by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate for Otukpo/ Ohimini federal constituency, Nelson Alapa, challenging the election of Ezekiel Adaji, of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Alapa in his petition had alleged the discrepancies in the conduct of the election, adding that it was characterised by widespread falsification of results, mutilation, cancellation, impersonation, fictitious results, missing and unaccounted ballot papers as well as improper accreditation of voters.

He prayed the court to cancel the results in 48 polling units and order a re-run. Delivering judgement that lasted for over an hour, Justice David Nyom, said the petitioner failed to prove his allegation, adding that the non-compliance adversely affected the outcome of the election.

Justice Nyom said the evidence adduced by the witnesses was not convincing enough as they were based on inadmissible hearsay, adding that the presentation of the petition was speculative. He also said that the documents and exhibits tendered should have come from makers of the documents and not the petitioner’s counsel, and accused Alapa of not calling polling unit agents, which would have been favourable to him. Similarly, the tribunal upheld the election of a House of Representatives member for Gwer/Gwer West Hon. Mark Gbillah, against John Tion.