The petition challenged the victory of Simnalayi Fubara from the People Democratic Party in the March 18 governorship election.
The petition challenged the victory of governor Ahmadu Fintiri from the PDP in the March 18 governorship election.
Ardo in his petition averred that the election conducted by INEC which returned Fintiri as winner, was not in substantial compliance with the amended Electoral Act, 2022.
He said the election was marred by corrupt practices, threats and violence, hence his request on the tribunal to nullify the election.
However, in a unanimous judgement read by the Chairman of the state governorship election tribunal, Justice T. O. Uloho, the petition was dismissed for being incompetent.
Justice Uloho stated that the petitioners beside bringing a defective petition which was incongruous and not properly instituted before the court also lumped their case leaving the justice uncertain of the kernel of their petition since they had lumped together corrupt practices and non-compliance and failed to file written statements of names of witnesses they intended to call.
The tribunal further held that since the allegation of corrupt practices could not be credibly substantiated with credible evidence it therefore rendered the petition incompetent, defective and without any probative value, worthless and lifeless.
The tribunal therefore dismissed the petition and awarded the sum of N200, 000 in favour of INEC, Fintiri, Kaletapwa and PDP against the petitioners.
