AL-HAU24news

FROM MIJINYAWA BABA-AGAIE MINNA

The National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal Sitting in Minna High court complexe again on Monday dismissed the petition filed against the election of Ismaila Musa MODIBO of the All Progressive Congress ( APC), by Abdullahi Mohammed Rico of the People Democratic party (PDP).

Abdullahi Rico filed the petition challenging election of Ismaila Modibo during the February 25 National and State Assembly Election to represent Munya, Rafi and Shiroro Federal Constituency on the ground that the respondent did not winn the majority of vote cast and was marred with unprecedented irregularities and over votings.

He further alledged that the respondent did not obtained secondary School certificate from Government Secondary School (GSS) Tegina and also did not have primary school certificate as claimed requesting that the tribunal should return him as the rightful winner of the election having ligitimately qualify to contest the election.

He further alleged that the election of the respondent did not comply with the provision of the Electoral act 2022 as the respondent did qualify to contest the Election as required by the provision of the electoral act 2022.


During the pre-hearings trial of the tribunal the petition, all the witnesses and evidences brought to the tribunal were all admmited as exhibits

Also three witnesses were suppoened by the tribunal among the suppoened witnesses include the principal of Government Secondary School (GSS) Regina, and the headmistress of Central primary School Regina who all testified under cross examination that the respondent completed and obtained his first leaving school certificate from the Central Primary School Tegina as well as the testimonial was issued to the respondent by the principal.

Delivery Judgement after reviewing all the submission and evidences as well as the exhibits and the tesmonies of all the counsel in the matter the chairman of the three members of the tribunal, Justice Godspower Aguma averred that the petitioner failed in enterity to prove all his allegations as contained in his Petition and the petition was dismissed ” as it lack merit ”

Speaking with Journalists shortly after the Judgement, Barrister Christ Osuagu described Judgement as a demonstration of the respondent was duely elected by the people of Munya Rafi and Shiroro Federal Constituency at the February 25 National Assembly Election

He said all the grounds sought by the petitioner could not be proved “even his own witnesses testified against him to tell you that the petitioner has failed in proving all the allegations he brought to the tribunal”

He appealed politicians to always imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship in accepting defeat in an election stating that Election should not be seen “as winn Winn at all times. If you don’t Winn today, you should expect to Winn any other time.
” It is Modibo today it can be Rico tomorrow. So I’m calling on politicians to always imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship to move our democracy Forward” he told Journalists.