The 2019 Election Petitions Tribunals In Nasarawa State In A Glance And How They Fared

By Matthew Kuju

Three Elections Petition Tribunals sat in Nasarawa State. One Tribunal was for Governorship and two Tribunals were for National Assembly and State House of Assembly election petitions.

In all, at the end of the time allowed for the filing of election petitions at Elections Petitions tribunals, 28 petitions were filed.

There were four Governorship election petitions, six Senatorial election petitions, six House of Representatives election petitions and 12 State House of Assembly election petitions filed.

The Elections Petitions filed were thus:
1. Mr John Mark versus INEC and others, petition number EPT/NSHA/NS/REP/01/2019
2. Jacob Okari Owa versus Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi – EPT/NSHA/NS/REP/02/2019;
3. Alhaji Abubakar Idris Gani versus Abubakar Hassan Nalaraba – EPT/NSHA/NS/REP/03/2019;
4. Prince Abdullahi Musa Agwai versus INEC and others – EPT/NSHA/NS/SEN/04/2019;
5, Suleiman Asonya Adokwe versus Al-Makura Umar Tanko – EPT/NSHA/NS/SEN/05/2019;
6. Alhaji Bala Ahmed Aliyu versus Senator Abdullahi Adamu – EPT/NSHA/NS/SEN/06/2019;
7. Dr Joseph Haruna Kigbu versus INEC and others – EPT/NSHA/NS/REP/07/2019;
8. Mr Emmanuel Abari versus Abubakar Hassan Nalaraba – EPT/NSHA/NS/REP/08/2019;
9. Ibrahim Yunusa versus INEC and others – EPT/NSHA/NS/SEN/09/2019;
10. K’tso Nghargbu versus Abdullahi Adamu – EPT/NSHA/NS/SEN/10/2019′
11. John Michael Abdul versus Akwashiki Godiya – EPT/NSHA/NS/SEN/11/2019;
12. Hon Dr Muhammad Abdullahi Yau versus Abdulkarim Usman and others – EPT/NSHA/NS/REP/12/2019;
13. Hon Isa Mohamed Sani versus Ibrahim Peter Akwe and others – EPT/NSHA/NS/HA/13/2019;
14. Musa Bako Karshi versus Mohammed Bello Isa and others – EPT/NSHA/NS/HA/15/2019;
15. Hon Alaphu Danlami Kuje versus Hon Abel Yakubu Bala – EPT/NSHA/NS/HA/16/2019;
16. Umar Kaika Osu versus Danladi Jatau – EPT/NSHA/NS/HA/16/2019;
17. Hon Kasim Muhammad versus Jacob S. Tsebe – EPT/NSHA/NS/HA/17/2019;
18. Esson Mairiga versus Mohammed Ibrahim Alkali – EPT/NSHA/NS/HA/18/2019;
19. John Timothy Shekwolo versus Adamu Suleiman Ibrahim – EPT/NSHA/NS/HA/19/2019;
20. Mr Basil Osheka versus Mr Mohammed Adamu Omadefu – EPT/NSHA/NS/HA/20/2019;
21. Bala Umaru versus Ali Dogara Mohammed – EPT/NSHA/NS/HA/21/2019;
22. Abdullahi Mohammed versus Abdullahi Dahiru – EPT/NSHA/NS/HA/22/2019;
23. Wada Kasimu Mohammed versus Suleiman Abdullaziz Danladi – EPT/NSHA/NS/HA/23/2019;
24. Ibrahim Kasimu Aboh Bakyano versus Mohammed Agah Muluku – EPT/NSHA/NS/HA/24/2019.

For the Governorship, there were: Musa Yusuf Nagogo versus INEC and others – EPT/ NS/GOV/01/2019;
2. Ombugu Emmanuel Alexander versus Audu Alhaji Sule and others – EPT/ NS/GOV/02/2019
3. David Emmanuel Ombugadu versus Audu Alhaji Sule – EPT/ NS/GOV/03/2019;
4. Mr Labaran Maku versus Audu Alhaji Sule – EPT/ NS/GOV/04/2019.

In all, one petition, precisely that of Mr John Mark versus INEC was struck out while four petitions were withdrawn, namely: Basil Osheka versus Mr Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, Abdullahi Mohammed versus Abdullahi Dahiru (both for State House of Assembly), Musa Yusuf Nagogo versus INEC and Ombugu Emmanuel Alexander versus Audu Alhaji Sule both for Governorship.

Of the remaining 19 petitions, 18 were dismissed. Only one petition almost scaled through, that of Dr Joseph Haruna Kigbu versus INEC and others. The Tribunal ordered a re-run in some poling units.

At the time of going to press, appeals on some judgments were determined at the Court of Appeal, Makurdi Division while some appeals were yet on going. It should be reported that judgment on one Governorship election petition, precisely that filed by Hon Labaran Maku went to Supreme Court all of which did not succeed.