Governorship Election Petition Tribunal holden at Yola, the Adamawa state capital has dismissed the the petition filed before it by All Peoples Party(APP) for lack of merit.
The political party had earlier prayed the court to nullify the governorship election conducted in Adamawa state on 9th March, 2019, for the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission to capture its substituted Governorship candidate, Bitrus Madeh.
The party told the court that it substituted it candidate, Rukaiya Audu, who withdrew from race few days to election with Bitrus Madeh, but the electoral body could not capture him as its candidate.
In suit number ET/AD/GOV/01/2019, the party joined Governor Ahmadu Umaru, his deputy Crowther Seth, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respondents.
But delivering his judgment, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice A. A. Adebara, struck out the petition for lack of convincing evidence.
Justice Adebara, held that the petitioners failed to present credible evidence in support of its suit, adding that APP, failed to tender a letter written to it by Rukaiya, notifying the party about her withdrawal from the race; thereby, substituting her with Bitrus.
According to him, the party could not convince the court with supportive evidence that Rukaiya, actually withdrew from the race and therefore dismissed the petition for lack of merit.
Justice Adebara, who was supported by two other justices, posited that as far the court is concerned, Rukaiya, was the Governorship Candidate of the party who participated in the election and scored 180, votes.
In his reaction shortly after the judgement, one of the counsel and Chairman of the PDP in the state, A. T. Shehu, said that the petition of the of APP against the sitting Governor was not supported with any evidence whatsoever.
A. T. Shehu told newsmen that they asked for the cost of #20million against the petitioners payable to the coffers of the Federal Government, so as to serve as punitive measures against what he described as frivolous and congenital petitions.
He said that the court had admitted that the parties are at liberty to ventilate their differences, but however, granted the sum of #300,000.00, against the petitioners in favour of 1st, 2rd and 3rd, respondents, and the sum of #100,000.00, against the same petitioners in favour of the 4th, respondent.
S. T. Shehu, stated that the PDP has taken the judgement as a victory to the entire Adamawa citizens because according to him, some unscrupulous elements wanted to puncture what the entire citizens are enjoying today.
On his part, Barr. Solomon Garba, who held brief for the counsel to the petitioners, said that the judgement is okay considering its content.
Barr. Garba, commended the Judges for doing a very good job in analysing all the evidence before them, saying he is not in the position to advise their clients whether to accept the Judgement or not.
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