The National and State House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal for Kogi sitting in Abuja on Monday reserved its judgment in the Ofu State Constituency election to Jan. 18.
Mr Salifu Idachaba of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ofu State Constituency had challenged his loss against Mr Friday Alih-Adoyi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in a petition before the tribunal.
Idachaba had challenged the victory of Alih-Adoyi, declared winner in the Feb 20, 2016 and the subsequent July 23, 2016 supplementary polls declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Idachaba’s petition alleged injustices against his candidacy and called for the nullification of the polls while calling for a fresh election.
According to the petitioner, he was excluded from participating in the Feb. 20 election and the July 23 supplementary election for Ofu State Constituency as a result of some misunderstandings within his party.
The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Cathrine-Ifeoma Nwobodo had reserved judgment after receiving the final written addresses of counsels to the contending parties.
The tribunal also adjourned for judgment to Jan. 18, the petition filed by Mr Abdulrahman Abubakar of APC challenging the election of Air Marshall Isaac Alfa as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for Kogi-East Senatorial District under the PDP.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a recent judgment by the Court of Appeal, Abuja division recently sacked Alfa following a pre-election appeal against him by Sen. Atai Aidoko-Usman also of PDP.
The tribunal also adjourned for judgment to Feb. 6, the petition filed against Mr Haruna Idoko-Musa of the APC, representing Idah State Constituency of Kogi.
Mr Ukubile Ochijenu-Acharu of the PDP had challenged the election of Musa as illegal and not in accordance with the Electoral Act.
(NAN)
