Percy Onyeka
The three man panel of National and State House of Assembly elections petition tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State capital has upheld the election of Deputy Speaker Benue State House of Assembly Mrs Lami.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Chairman of the panel, Justice Ory’zik Ikeorha, said the petitioners, Mrs Agnes Uloko and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), failed to prove their case.
Justice Ikeorha said the petitioners failed to prove their case of certificate forgery and that Mrs Danladi was not a member of the APC before contesting the election.
She said the petitioners case was too weak too establish forgery case against the respondent adding that pleadings alone were not evidence before the court.
The Court held that the evidence before the court “showed physically that the certificate tendered by the respondent looks genuine”.
She said “the reliefs sought are hereby refused, the petition stands dismissed in entirety.
It could be recalled that Mrs Uloko and PDP had dragged Mrs Danladi, APC and INEC before the tribunal challenging his victory and declaration by INEC.
The petitioners alleged that the respondent does not possess the requisite qualification to contest the March 18th Ado State Constituency Election and was not a member of the APC as of the time of contesting the election.
The petitioner also prayed the court to disqualify the respondent and declare her the winner of the election on the basis of forgery.
However, the respondent countered the petitioners prayers insisting that the she possessed the required qualifications to contest the election and tendered relevant documents.
The Petitioner iterates that the allegations lack substance describing it as exercise in futility when the petitioner didn’t prove satisfactory evidence against his rival.
Techrectory with Agency Report.
