Gov’ship Results: APC Petitions Tribunals In Kano, Plateau, Rivers

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates have filed petitions at the election petition tribunals in Kano, Plateau and Rivers states challenging the outcome of the March 18 governorship polls.

The Kano State chapter of the APC has filed a petition before the Kano election tribunal challenging the emergence of Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) as governor-elect.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Yusuf as winner of the election conducted on March 18, 2023.

The final results announced by the returning officer, Professor Ahmad Doko Ibrahim, said Yusuf polled 1,019,602 while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, polled 890,705 to come second.

Daily Trust reports that Gawuna had conceded defeat and congratulated Yusuf a week after the announcement of the final results.

However, the APC in a five-volume petition is alleging that Abba Kabir Yusuf was not qualified to contest the election on the grounds that his name was allegedly not in the list of members of NNPP sent to INEC.

However, the gubernatorial candidate of the APC, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, was not joined as a party in the petition as parties involved are the APC, the petitioner and on the other hand, NNPP, Abba Kabir Yusuf and INEC as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively.

The APC also alleged that the NNPP did not win the election with the majority of lawful votes, arguing that some of the votes cast for them were invalid and if removed from their scores, APC will have the highest number of votes cast.

The party said the Kano Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was wrong for declaring Abba Yusuf the winner, arguing that the margin of lead was not higher than the votes cancelled, arguing that the election ought to have been declared inconclusive.

The petitioner is asking the court to declare APC as winner of the election.

The respondents have 21 days to respond to the petition after the court processes served on them.

APC candidate files petition against PDP, INEC in Plateau

Similarly, the APC governorship candidate in Plateau State, Nentawe Yilwatda, has filed a 400-page petition against the state’s governor-elect, Caleb Mutfuwang of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at the election petition tribunal in Jos.

In the petition, Nentawe predicated his petition on three grounds.

He claimed that Caleb Mutfwang was not qualified to contest the election, arguing that he should be disqualified for “non-compliance” with the Electoral Act.

The APC governorship candidate who is the first petitioner also contended that Mutfwang was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes cast during the election, among others.

NNPP demands fresh poll in Borno

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has in a petition filed at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sought for a fresh governorship election in Borno State.

INEC had declared the incumbent governor of the state, Babagana Umara Zulum, winner of the March 18 election.

But challenging the outcome of the election, the NNPP in a petition claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had omitted the name of its candidate, Umar Alkali, and the party logo on the ballot papers.

The secretary of the tribunal, Mr Taiwo Adediji, said the tribunal had received 10 petitions for the National Assembly elections.

He said these include three petitions for senatorial seat and seven for the House of Representatives.

He confirmed two petitions from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in Askira/Uba and Kala-Balge State Constituency challenging the victory of APC candidates in the area.

9 gov’ship candidates file petition in Rivers

Nine candidates that participated in the March 18 governorship election in Rivers State have filed a petition at the tribunal challenging the outcome of the March 18 polls.

INEC had declared candidate of the PDP, Sim Fubara, who scored 302,614 votes as winner of the election, but opposition parties were not satisfied with the outcome of the polls.

Those who have filed a petition at the tribunal are: Comrade Beatrice Itubo (Labour Party), Tekena Iyagba (Boot Party), Innocent Ekwu (APM), Etete Sobere (PRP), Gabriel Gborogbosi (Action Alliance), Magnus Abe (SDP), Pastor Tonye Cole (APC) and Dumo Lulu Briggs (Accord Party).

One of our correspondents reports that 12 senatorial candidates, 26 House of Representatives candidates and 20 houses of assembly candidates have equally filed petitions at the tribunal.