BREAKING: Tribunal declares Kogi East Senatorial election inconclusive, orders rerun

The Kogi East Senatorial Election Tribunal made a significant ruling on Tuesday, nullifying the victory of Senator Jibrin Isah, who represented the district. The tribunal’s decision was based on the cancellation of elections in 94 polling units.

Tribunal Chairman K.A. Orjiako, while delivering the judgment in response to a petition by Victor Adoji, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the February 25 election, granted the petitioner’s request. Adoji, represented by Counsel Johnson Usman (SAN), had contested the return of Isah from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the grounds that elections were canceled in several polling units where the number of collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) exceeded the margin of Isah’s victory.

The tribunal ruled unanimously in favor of the petitioner’s argument, agreeing with Usman’s submission and ordering the withdrawal of Isah’s certificate of return.

Mr. Orjiako explained, “Since the PVCs collected in the 94 polling units is 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.”

In light of this decision, the tribunal directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize a supplementary election in the affected polling units where elections did not take place or were canceled in order to determine the rightful winner.

(NAN)