Labour Party loses another court case in Kaduna

The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, seated in Kaduna State, has delivered its verdict on the petition filed by the Labour Party (LP) Senatorial candidate, Michael Auta. Auta had sought to challenge the victory of Sunday Marshall Katung as the Senator representing Kaduna-South.

In a unanimous judgment, the three-member panel of justices declared that the LP candidate failed to provide substantial evidence to substantiate his claims of non-compliance with electoral processes and electoral violence during the February 25 election.

Auta’s petition alleged that the election was marred by significant non-compliance with electoral processes, particularly in certain areas of Kachia and Kagarko Local Government Areas. He sought to have the Tribunal nullify the proclamation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the election.

Justice O.O. Oluboyede, who delivered the judgment on behalf of the tribunal committee, ruled that the petitioner did not present credible evidence to support his case, leading to the dismissal of the petition in its entirety.

One of the lead counsels for the respondent, Zigwai Z. Adamu, explained that the LP candidate had alleged that elections were not conducted in specific polling units. However, he noted that the petitioner failed to provide credible evidence as stated in their pleadings.

Adamu further emphasized that the tribunal’s role is to uphold justice based on the evidence presented, rather than delve into emotional appeals.

Expressing his gratitude to the tribunal for upholding the victory of Sunday Marshal Katung, Ali Kalat, the Minority Leader in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, commended the decision. He noted the historical electoral strength of Southern Kaduna as a region traditionally aligned with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Sunday Marshal Katung had been declared the elected representative for Kaduna-South in the National Assembly election conducted by INEC on February 25, 2023.