Niger East bye-election: PDP candidate berates Tribunal

Barely a week after the National Assembly Election Tribunal upturned his election as winner of the August/September Niger East bye-election, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the election, Dr. Shem Nuhu Zagbayi, has berated the Tribunal’s ruling in favour of David Umaru of the All Progressives Congress.

Zagbayo said: “I remain the senator.”

Zagbayi, who appeared on the podium as the senator representing the zone during the PDP presidential campaign rally in Minna, told The Eagle Online: “The state Peoples Democratic Party has filed a suit before the Court of Appeal seeking an order to set aside the judgment of the National Assembly Election Tribunal.

“I remain the senator representing my people.

“My party has appealed the Tribunal’s ruling that upturned my election as winner of the August/September Niger East bye-election.”

It would be recalled that the Tribunal on January 30, 2015 ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission should give the Certificate of Return to Umar.

Also, the PDP in a press statement signed by its state Secretary, Hon. Aminu Yusuf, said being dissatisfied with the decision of the Tribunal, as contained in the judgement upturning the victory of the party and its candidate, it has decided to appeal against it.

Yusuf said in the statement: “The party is seeking an order setting aside the findings of the Election Tribunal and all relief granted to the ‘petitioner’ in the judgment delivered by the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Bako on 30th January, 2015.

“The appeal seeks an order that the first petitioner, Barrister David Umar did not win the majority of lawful votes cast, but that first respondent, Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu to the petition won the election by a majority of lawful votes cast.”

The party further stated that the appeal notice has been dully served to the petitioners, Umar and the APC, the first respondent, Zagbayi and INEC.

It however called on its supporters to remain calm and committed to the nobel ideals of the party, assuring that every legal means will be taken to ensure the victory earned returns to the party and its candidate.