Plateau by-election: Tribunal strike out PDP petition for lack of merit.

By YUSUFU IDEGU, Jos –

An election petition tribunal in Jos, the Plateau state capital, has strike out the petition of the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for lacking merit.

The tribunal equally uphold the election of Senator Nora Daduut as the senator representing Plateau South senatorial zone.

Senator Nora Daduut of the All Progressive Congress (APC) was declared winner in a by-election organised by the National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) on the 5th of December 2020 to fill up the seat left following the death of Senator Ignatius Longjan.

After listening to arguements and counter-arguements by parties to the petition as well as witnesses and cross examination, the 3-man tribunal ruled that the petition lacks in merit and is hereby strike out.

The tribunal explained that “The petitioner has no evidence to prove his allegation that the defender, Senator Daduut was not elected by majority of the lawful votes cast during the election”.

“With the totality of evidences before the tribunal, the petitioner woefully failed to substantiate its allegation of substantial non-compliance and irregularities. It also failed to convinced the court why he should be declared as winner of the by-election”.

“The tribunal therefore held that the election conducted on the 5th of December 2020 was smooth, peaceful, free, fair and credible”.

“The return of the APC candidate Prof. Daduut by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as duly elected as a result of the re-run election of 5th December 2020 is therefore undisputable”.

“The tribunal has no option other than to strike out the petition by the PDP candidate, thereby upholding the election of Prof Nora Daduut as senator representing Plateau South Senatorial Zone”.