The Borno State Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed a suit filed by Senator Mohammed Abba-Aji of the Peoples Democratic Party challenging the election of Governor Kashim Shettima of the All Progressives Congress as the representative of Borno Central Senatorial District.
Abba-Aji represented the zone between 2003 and 2007.
In a petition with number EPT/BO/SEN/3/2019, dated March 17, filed before the Tribunal sitting in Abuja, Abba-Aji argued that there was over voting in seven wards and evidence of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act.
Also joined in the suit were the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Ruling on the application for withdrawal of the petition filed by Abba-Aji, the Tribunal, headed by Justice Peter Kekemeke, dismissed it for lack of merit.
Kekemeke held: “The petitioners have not complied with the provision of section (49) of the 1st Schedule of the Electoral Act.
“It is our view that the petitioners’ application lacks merit and so failed.”
Kekemeke also dismissed application of Shettima and APC praying the tribunal to dismiss the petition for also lacking in merit.
“However, the petition had turned academic in pursuant to paragraph 15 (4) of the 1st Schedule of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended, this petition is accordingly dismissed,” he held.
Abba-Aji had earlier sought an order of the tribunal mandating INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Shettima because the election was marred by corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
He also sought for an order mandating INEC to conduct a fresh election to the seat of Borno Central Senatorial District.
