Tribunal Upholds Masari’s Electoral Victory

The Katsina State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Saturday in Abuja, in a split decision of two to one, validated the election of Governor Aminu Masari of the All Progressives Congress.
Justice Dele Omotosho, in his judgment at the Zone ll Magistrate Court, Abuja, held that the petitioner failed to prove the allegation of substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act in the conduct of the election.
Omotosho however, in his dissenting judgment, allowed the petition and nullified the election of Governor Masari.
He also ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission should conduct a fresh election in the state within 90 days.
In the majority judgment, chairman of the panel, Justice Hadiza Alijos and Justice Ityonuyiman, held that the petitioners failed to prove the allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act in the conduct of the election that produced Masari as the winner.

Senator Yakubu Lado of the Peoples Democratic Party took Masari and the APC to the tribunal, challenging the result of the March 9, governorship election in the state

Lado in his petition filed by his counsel, Goddy Uche, asked the tribunal to nullify the election and order for a rerun over alleged irregularities.

The PDP and its candidate also prayed that the tribunal should disqualify Masari who won the disputed election on the grounds that he did not possess the requisite educational qualification to contest the election.

(NAN)