* According to the Tribunal: “Since the PVCs collected in the 94 polling units are 59,730 and the margin of victory is 26,922 votes, the Returning Officer ought to have declared the election inconclusive without making a return.”
The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lokoja has nullified the Kogi Senatorial East election and ordered a rerun.
Consequently, the tribunal has ordered withdrawal of the Certificate of Return issued to Jibrin Isah Echocho, the Senate committee chairman on customs, excise, and tariffs, on the ground that elections were cancelled in some 94 polling units.
The tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a supplement election in the affected 94 polling units.
The tribunal chairman, Justice K.A. Orjiako, who delivered the judgement on the petition brought before it by Victor Adoji, former banker and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), agreed with the prayers of Adoji.
Adoji, through his counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN), challenged the return of Isah Echocho on the grounds that elections were cancelled in some polling units where the PVCs collected were more than the margin of his win.
The petitioner had pleaded with the tribunal to annul the election of Echocho and order a supplementary election in the affected 94 polling units in the Kogi East Senatorial District.
Delivering a unanimous judgement of the tribunal, Mr Orjiako agreed with the submission of Mr Usman, annulled Echocho’s victory, and ordered the withdrawal of his certificate of return.
“Since the PVCs collected in the 94 polling units are 59,730 and the margin of victory is 26,922 votes, the Returning Officer ought to have declared the election inconclusive without making a return.
“Consequently, this honourable Tribunal hereby grants the reliefs sought by the petitioners. We also set aside the Certificate of Return issued to Jibrin Isah.
“The tribunal hereby also orders INEC to conduct a supplementary election in the affected polling units where the election did not hold or was cancelled in order to determine the winner,” Mr Orjiako declared.
(Nan)