November 14, 2007
To further underscore the poor conduct of the April polls, the Adamawa State Election Petition Tribunal this morning nullified the election of the incumbent governor of the state, Murtala Nyako, and called for a fresh one within 90 days. Nyako is the fifth governor whose election would be annulled by the tribunal as a result of INEC’s inefficiency.
In its ruling, the tribunal held that the name of the Action Congress (AC) candidate, Ibrahim Bapetel, was unlawfully removed from the list of candidates for the 14 April governorship election in the state.
The tribunal held that another round of election must be held in the state because the electoral umpire, INEC, disqualified the AC candidate who was validly nominated for the election on the allegation that he had been indicted for fraud by the EFCC.
It explained further that there was no level playing field during the conduct of the election and called for a fresh election in the state within 90 days.
P.M.News investigations revealed that the name of Bapetel was withdrawn from the list of candidates for the election on the eve of election by INEC, based on allegation that Bapetel had been indicted by the EFCC for corruption related charges.
The tribunal maintained that the PDP and its candidate Nyako, were victims of the antics of INEC.
It added that right from the beginning, INEC had programmed the election of the state to fail.
Counsel to the PDP, O. Akon, SAN, told P.M.News that Nyako would appeal the ruling.
Surprisingly, thousands of PDP supporters were seen jubilating at the premises of the tribunal.
They explained that the fresh election ordered by the tribunal would give them the opportunity to show that they actually voted for Nyako as governor, and not Bapetel.
In his reaction to the judgment, the National Publicity Secretary of AC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the ruling has again confirmed the popular belief that what transpired on 14 April was a travesty of justice.
He expressed joy that the judiciary had the courage to correct the injustice.
“This has also strengthened our position that Iwu is not qualified to conduct any election in the country and should be relieved of his position immediately,” he stated.
In its ruling, the tribunal held that the name of the Action Congress (AC) candidate, Ibrahim Bapetel, was unlawfully removed from the list of candidates for the 14 April governorship election in the state.
The tribunal held that another round of election must be held in the state because the electoral umpire, INEC, disqualified the AC candidate who was validly nominated for the election on the allegation that he had been indicted for fraud by the EFCC.
It explained further that there was no level playing field during the conduct of the election and called for a fresh election in the state within 90 days.
P.M.News investigations revealed that the name of Bapetel was withdrawn from the list of candidates for the election on the eve of election by INEC, based on allegation that Bapetel had been indicted by the EFCC for corruption related charges.
The tribunal maintained that the PDP and its candidate Nyako, were victims of the antics of INEC.
It added that right from the beginning, INEC had programmed the election of the state to fail.
Counsel to the PDP, O. Akon, SAN, told P.M.News that Nyako would appeal the ruling.
Surprisingly, thousands of PDP supporters were seen jubilating at the premises of the tribunal.
They explained that the fresh election ordered by the tribunal would give them the opportunity to show that they actually voted for Nyako as governor, and not Bapetel.
In his reaction to the judgment, the National Publicity Secretary of AC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the ruling has again confirmed the popular belief that what transpired on 14 April was a travesty of justice.
He expressed joy that the judiciary had the courage to correct the injustice.
“This has also strengthened our position that Iwu is not qualified to conduct any election in the country and should be relieved of his position immediately,” he stated.
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