Tribunal affirms Kefas victory as Taraba governor

The Taraba State Governorship Election Tribunal has ruled that Agbu Kefas of the Peoples Democratic Party is the state’s legitimately elected governor.

The tribunal’s three-member panel of justices ruled that the petition of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and its candidate, Yahaya Sani, disputing Kefas’ election was without substance and so dismissed it.

The NNPP and its candidate had filed a case against the PDP and its candidate, Governor Kefas, in the March 18 governorship election, citing corrupt practices, non-compliance with the Electoral Act of 2022, over voting, mutilation of result sheets, and alleged violence in polling units.

The court determined that the petitioner, who claims to have received the majority of legitimate votes cast, is inconsistent because he also requests that the same election be deemed unlawful while still valid to declare him winner.

According to the panel, it is impossible to put something on nothing and expect it to stand.

Counsel for the state governor and the INEC said the decision is a positive step and that there is no basis to appeal.

The state’s Deputy Governor, Aminu Alkali, who was present in court, is giving an olive branch to the petitioners, inviting them to bring their developmental ideas for the state on board so that the state can progress and develop together.

In the aforementioned election, the PDP and its candidate won 11 Local Government Areas, the NNPP won three, and the APC won only two.

Jubilant party supporters have flocked to the streets of Jalingo, the state capital, to celebrate the governor’s triumph before the tribunal.

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