Kogi election petitions tribunal reserves judgment

The National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal for Kogi State sitting in Abuja on Monday reserved its judgment in the Ofu State Constituency election to January 18.
Salifu Idachaba of the All Progressives Congress had challenged his loss against Friday Alih-Adoyi of the Peoples Democratic Party in a petition before the tribunal.
Idachaba had challenged the victory of Alih-Adoyi, declared winner in the February 20, 2016 election and the subsequent July 23, 2016 supplementary poll, declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
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 February 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 January 18 the petition filed by Abdulrahman Abubakar of the APC challenging the election of Air Marshall Isaac Alfa as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for Kogi East Senatorial District on the platform of the PDP.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that a recent judgment by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division recently sacked Alfa following a pre-election appeal against him by Senator Atai Aidoko-Usman also of PDP.
The tribunal also adjourned for judgment to February 6 the petition filed against Haruna Idoko-Musa of the APC, representing Idah State Constituency of Kogi State.
Ukubile Ochijenu-Acharu of the PDP had challenged the election of Musa as illegal and not in accordance with the Electoral Act.