The Taraba governorship election petition tribunal has affirmed Kefas Agbu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, as the duly elected governor of the state.
In a verdict delivered on Saturday, the tribunal dismissed the petition filed by Muhammad Yahaya and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for lacking merit.
Agbu’s election validated
Agbu secured 257,926 votes, defeating Yahaya, who garnered 202,277 votes in the election.
Yahaya and his party contested the result, alleging non-compliance with the Electoral Act and that Agbu did not obtain the majority of lawful votes.
However, the tribunal, led by G.A Sunmonu, ruled that the petitioners failed to substantiate their claims.
Sam Adda, the governor’s counsel, noted that none of the 128 witnesses presented by the petitioners could prove their allegations.
Emeka Okoro, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), added that the tribunal held that the documents relied upon by the petitioners were hearsay and required the individuals involved in their creation to testify.