The National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, yesterday affirmed the election of former speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Abel Diah, who also represents Mbamga state constituency.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emmanuel Bongo, and his party had challenged Diah’s victory at the tribunal.
The petitioner asked the tribunal to nullify the election over non compliance to the electoral process by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the exercise.
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He also claimed the former speaker was not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as of the time the party (APC) nominated Diah to participate in the election.
The three member panel led by Justice Benson Ogbu during his ruling dismissed the petition, stating that “the two petitions collapsed on failure of proof by the petitioner.”
Ogbu, while reading the judgement, stated that during the cross examination, counsel to Diah were able to prove to the tribunal that Diah was an authentic member of the APC as of the time of the party’s primary election.
He also said Bongo and the PDP failed to prove to the tribunal the evidence of non compliance by INEC during the state assembly election.
In his reaction, counsel to the PDP, Barr. Joseph Oguche, said he would study the details of the judgment and consult his client for further actions.
Counsel to the defendant, Barr. Festus Idekpe hailed the three man panel for giving a straight forward judgment adding that it would stand the test of time.
