Tribunal Upholds Senator Bukola Saraki's Election

The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ilorin has upheld the election of Senator Bukola Saraki representing Kwara Central at the National Assembly.

The tribunal penultimate Wednesday dismissed the petition filed against the victory of Saraki in the April 9, 2010 election for lack of merit.

The same tribunal had last week Friday dismissed the petition against Saraki brought before it by the candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Princess Bilkis Gambari over the inability of the petitioner to prove her case beyond reasonable doubt.

Delivering judgement on the ACN candidate’s petition against the election of Saraki, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Bitrus Sanga held that the petitioners could not adduce evidence that could warrant the granting of their prayers, adding that the petitioners ought to have tendered evidences to prove their claims that Saraki did not win on the basis of majority of lawful votes cast.

He said: “On the totality of evidence adduced before us, it is our submission that the election was conducted with substantial compliance with the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.”

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its candidate in the 9 April National Assembly election in the state, Dr Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, had approached the tribunal saying that, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Saraki was not elected by majority of the lawful votes cast.

The petitioners who argued that the election was marred by thuggery, rigging, ballot box snatching and manipulations of results amongst others, sought an order that Oloriegbe be returned as the winner of the election and also an order nullifying the election of Saraki, alleging that the election did not substantially comply with the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

But in its ruling, the tribunal chairman held that “the petitioners did not adduce evidences that could warrant us granting their prayers. We hereby dismiss this petition in its entirety for lack of merit.”

In its reaction, the Kwara ACN said it rejects outrightly the ruling of the Election Petition Tribunal.ACN Chairman in the state, Kayode Olawepo, said: “We do not agree with the judgment, and we are definitely going to lodge an appeal against it.”

Oloriegbe, the ACN senatorial candidate said: “We are definitely not satisfied with the ruling of the tribunal and as such we have instructed our lawyers to appeal it immediately. It is purely technical justice, which is totally devoid of substantial justice now being espoused worldwide.

“We believe strongly that there were several errors in the reasoning of the panel, which we believe a higher court will have a contrary opinion. Meanwhile, we thank our supporters for their support and urge them to remain calm and law-abiding while we pursue all legal means to reclaim our stolen mandate.”

By Stephen Oni/Ilorin