By Ibrahim Ramalan
Abuja
The Yobe state Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja, yesterday affirmed the victory of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam.
The tribunal dismissed the election petition filed by Alhaji Adamu Waziri, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the April 11, 2015 election for lack of merit.
Waziri had challenged Governor Gaidam’s election on the grounds of substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended, and also alleged bribery, corrupt practices and irregularities among others.
Delivering the judgment yesterday, Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Mojisola Dada, said she had gone through the evidence of the 34 witnesses and exhibits tendered, and came to the conclusion that the
petitioner was unable to prove the allegations of substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act and corruption.
She ruled that even though there were irregularities in few polling booths, the number of votes cast in such polling units, were not substantial enough to nullify the overall result of the governorship poll.
On the allegation of bribery of the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner levelled against the governor’s Aid-De-Camp, the tribunal established that the sum of N8 million was paid into the Diamond bank account of the official and another N7million in his Zenith bank account on April 8.
The tribunal said it also found that the INEC’s official directed the banks on April 9 to return the said amount to the payee after he received an alert.
Addressing his supporters, the governor described the judgement as a victory for democracy and the cause of justice.
While assuring people of the state of his administration’s readiness to continue to provide them with the enabling environment, he called on the opposition to team up with his administration to salvage the state in the face of the daunting security challenge.
