The National Assembly and State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lafia, on Friday dismissed a petition filed by Mr John Mike-Abdul of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, challenging the election of Sen. Godiya Akwashiki of the All Progressives Congress, APC, representing Nasarawa North senatorial zone.
Delivering judgment, Mrs Iboro Ukpanah, a member of the three-man panel of the tribunal, held that the petitioner’s case lacked merit, adding that the evidence before the tribunal were not admissible in law.
Speaking to newsmen after the judgment, Counsel to Akwashiki , Oludare Akanbi, said the judgement was a victory for democracy.
“It is a victory for democracy and for the electorate who voted for Sen. Akwashiki during the election.”
Recall that on Feb 27, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Akwashiki, the former deputy speaker of the House of Assembly, winner with 54,104 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Mike-Abdul of the PDP, who polled 48,133 votes.
The candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance, Sam Allu scored 15,788 votes.
NAN
