PDP, Wada Lose As Tribunal Affirms Yahaya Bello As Kogi Governor

The Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has upheld the election of incumbent Governor, Yahaya Bello.

Yahaya Bello was the candidate of All Progressives Congress in the gubernatorial election held late last year in the state.

The petition had been filed by Mr Musa Wada, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 election.

Also read: Kogi: Tribunal Upholds Yahaya Bello’s Governorship Election

In a judgment of two to one, delivered by the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Kashim Kaigama, on Saturday, the tribunal held that the petitioner failed to prove the allegations of over-voting, massive thumb printing, voter intimidation, and other electoral malpractices.

The tribunal also awarded a cost of one million naira to be paid by the petitioners, PDP and Musa Wada to INEC, Yahaya Bello and APC who are the respondents.

In a dissenting judgment, Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele nullified the election of Governor Yahaya Bello and ordered INEC to conduct fresh elections in seven local government areas where the petitioners proved their allegations of over-voting, thuggery, voter intimidation, massive thumb printing, and other electoral malpractices.