Taraba Tribunal Dismisses NNPP Petition Affirms Kefas As Gov

The election of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governor Agbu Kefas was upheld on Saturday by the Taraba State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which met in the state capital of Jalingo.

New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) governor candidate Prof. Sani Yahaya and his party filed a petition with the tribunal when Kefas and the PDP won the election.

The petitioner approached the Tribunal on the grounds that the governorship election held on March 18, 2023 was massively rigged with alleged over-voting, INEC’s violation of the Electoral Act, and the alleged diversion of votes belonging to him and the NNPP to Kefas and the PDP.

As a result, Kefas’ victory was challenged by the NNPP candidate, who sought to recognize him as the election’s legitimate victor.

However, the petition was rejected by the Tribunal’s three-member panel under the leadership of Justics GA Sumonu for a lack of proof.

When reading the decision, Justice Sumonu noted that Prof. The majority of the accusations made against both INEC and Governor Kefas could not be explained in detail by Yahaya.

“The petitioners have failed to provide specific evidence to this honorable Tribunal showing how the election was rigged and why the NNPP candidate for governor should be proclaimed the winner in the governorship election held on March 18, 2023.

The petition is hereby dismissed for lack of merit because the petitioner was unable to establish the basis for an overvote, the Tribunal chairman ruled.

Nevertheless, Prof. Sani Yahaya declined to comment shortly after the decision, and Governor Kefas characterized his success at the Tribunal as a triumph of the people’s will.

The governor urged all state residents and others to accept the majority Tarabians’ will, referring to it as God’s creation, in a speech delivered through his Special Adviser for Media and Digital Communications, Emmanuel Bello.

“The Taraba people and all supporters of democracy are the sole owners of this victory. The governor was quoted as saying, “I commend the Judiciary for remaining true to their calling and upholding what is right and just.