Tribunal sacks Kogi senator, Isah, orders supplementary poll

The National Assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State,has sacked
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs Excise and Tariffs, Jibrin Isah (APC, Kogi East), on the ground that elections were cancelled in 94 polling units.

Consequently, it ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a supplementary election in the 94 polling units.

Tribunal Chairman, Justice Kemakolam Orjiako, who delivered the judgment on the petition brought before it by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr Victor Adoji, agreed with the petitioner’s prayers.

Adoji had, through his counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN), challenged the return of Isah on the ground that elections were cancelled in some polling units where the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected were more than the margin of win.

The petitioner had pleaded the tribunal to annul the election of Isah and order for a supplementary election in the affected 94 polling units in the senatorial district.

In a unanimous judgment, the tribunal agreed with Usman’s submission of and annulledIsah’selection and ordered the withdrawal of his Certificate of Return.

“Since the PVCs collected in the 94 polling units are 59,730, while the margin of win 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 JibrnIsah.

“The tribunal, hereby, also order INEC to conduct a supplementary election in the affected polling units, where election did not hold or cancelled to determine the winner,” justice Orjiako declared.