By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Election Petition Court sitting in Kaduna State has affirmed Senator Lawal Adamu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the Kaduna central senatorial election held in the state.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Abdullahi Muhammad-Sani had filed a petition before the tribunal challenging the election of the PDP senator on four grounds.
The grounds for challenging were the issue of school certificate forgery, over voting, non-compliance and the issue of nomination and sponsorship of the first respondent by the PDP.s Lavwal.
The three-man panel led by Justice H.H Kereng stated that all the grounds presented by the petitioners’ had failed and were dismissed.
“The elections and return of the first respondent is hereby affirmed; This petition is hereby dismissed,” he ruled.
In his judgement, the judge stated that the petitioners failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the first respondent’s NECO results and other School certificates were forged.
He added that the petitioners’ had also failed to prove that the first respondent was not duly elected by the majority of votes in the February 25 polls.
“The APC got 182035 votes while PDP got 225066 votes giving a margin of 43031; The petitioners’ have failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the respondent didn’t get majority votes.
“Therefore, this issue is in favour of the first respondent and against the petitioner,” he said.
On the issue of non-compliance, the judge also stated that the petitioners couldn’t prove that there was non-compliance which affected the election results.
He added that the issue of sponsorship and nomination of candidates was the responsibility of the political party, not the court while resolving issues in favour of the respondent.
Meanwhile, reacting to the tribunal verdict, the personal assistant to the Senator Lawal, Jalal Falal appreciated God for granting them victory saying the outcome of the judgement had validated the senator’s election.
He urged the opposition to join hands with the sitting senator to work for the progress and development of the people of Kaduna central.
