Moses Oba
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgement in the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate Engr Musa Wada, in the November 16, 2019 election, against the victory of Governor Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress APC .
The five man panel presided by Justice Adamu Jauro reserved judgement to a date to be communicated to the parties after listening to arguments from Engr Musa Wada lead counsel, JS Okutepa SAN ,and responses from JB Daudu SAN, Counsel to Governor Yahaya Bello and INEC counsel Chief Alex Izion
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In the election Engineer Musa Wada polled 189,709 votes while Governor Bello scored 406 votes and Engineer challenged the out come of the election and seek for redress at the kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that there was over voting, voter’s intimidation, multiple thump printing, violence and much more irregularities in the election.
At the Election Petition Tribunal, the three man committee, two upheld the election of Governor Yahaya Bello while one dissent the judgement that the election is inclusiveness and INEC should withdraw the certificate of return from Governor Bello and conduct a rerun election in seven local government areas of the state due to some electoral malpractices in the seven local government areas which are; Ajaokuta, Kana/Bunu, Lokoja, Okene, Okehi, Adavi and Olamoboro. And he stressed further that 284, 612 ballot papers were used and 323,745 votes were casted. Meanwhile, 159,957 multiple thump prints and 67, 297 irregularities were recorded.
The Nigeria Post