The National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal on Friday declared the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the Niger East Senatorial District bye-election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has initially declared the Peoples Democratic Party as the winner of the election.
But the Tribunal on Friday said the winner of the election was Barrister David Umaru of the APC.
It thus ordered INEC to retrieve the certificate of return earlier given to Dr. Nuhu Zagbayi of the PDP and present it to Umaru.
The election was held in August 2014.
Justice Ibrahim Bako, the Chairman of the three-man Tribunal, gave the verdict at the Niger State High Court 7 in Minna.
Bako said Umaru scored 79,779 votes as against Zagbayi’s 68,525 votes.
Bako, who read the judgment, said an order directing INEC is hereby granted to issue the certificate of return to Umaru as the senator representing Niger East Senatorial District.
According to him: “An order is hereby granted to nullify the result of 100 polling units out of the polling units that were affected by non compliance.
“We order the deduction of the scores from the final scores of the parties (namely) the petitioners and the 1st and 2nd respondents.
“The order hereby nullifies the return of the 1st respond that he did not win the majority of the return.
“An order is granted nullifying the return of the 1st respondent on the ground that he did not win the majority of the lawful votes cast at the election held on 30th August and concluded on the 6th September 2014.
“That an order declaring the 1st petitioner as the winner of the election held on the 30th of August, but concluded on the 6th of September, 2014 having won the majority of lawful votes cast at the election be and is hereby granted.
“That an order directing INEC to issue a Certificate of Return to the 1st petitioner forthwith as the duly elected senator for Niger east senatorial district is hereby granted.”
Chris Osuagwu, Counsel to Umaru, told journalists that the victory was just the beginning of good things before the forthcoming general election.
Osuagwu said: “APC supporters should not lose hope.
“The victory recorded in the tribunal is an indication that people are ready for change.”
Musa Suleiman, Counsel to Zagbayi, acceded to the judgement, adding that his clients would abide by it.
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