From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
The National/State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Makurdi, has upheld the victory of Senator Abba Moro of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the Feb. 25, Benue South Senatorial election.
Delivering the judgment on Sunday Chairman of the panel, Ory’zik Ikeorha said the petitioners, Daniel Onjeh and All Progressives Congress (APC) failed to prove his case.
Justice Ikeorha said the 17 witnesses called by the petitioner and documents tendered do not help his case as the evidence were not cogent and compiling to prove his allegations of non compliance to the Electoral act.
She said the evidence of the petitioners were porous, full of emotions and such pleadings are not enough to sustain his case and it is hereby dismissed.
“Reliefs sought are hereby refused. The petition stands dismissed in entirety,” she hold, adding that the election of Sen Moro is affirmed. There is no order as to cost.
It could be recalled that Mr Onjeh and the APC had dragged Sen Moro, PDP and INEC before the tribunal challenging his return as the winner of the Benue South Senatorial election.
The petitioner averred that the respondent was not qualified to contest, not elected by majority of the lawful votes casts and the election did not complied with the Electoral Act.
The petitioner had also challenged the results of about 700 polling units out of the 729 polling units in the senatorial district on grounds of several irregularities.
He also tendered all the results sheets of the polling units in the 9 LGAs to support his case.
However, the respondent, raised objection as to the competence of the petition, the objection was dismissed and the petition was heard on its merit.
