The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State has declared Senator Gabriel Suswam, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the February 25 election for Benue North-East senatorial district.
The tribunal’s judgment, which was delivered yesterday after a three-hour hearing, nullified the election of the incumbent senator, Emmanuel Udende of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In its judgment, the tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a certificate of return to Suswam. Udende represents Benue North-East senatorial district in the red chamber.
The chairman of the panel, Justice Ory Zik-Ikeorha, and two justices entered judgment in favour of Suswam and PDP. According to the judgment, Suswam and PDP fulfilled the requirement of the law in proving their case of irregularities such as mutilation, non-signing of documents, and non-inclusion of lawful votes among others.
One of the three members of the National/State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, however, held that evidence by PDP’s Gabriel Suswam was grossly insufficient to sustain his petition. He, therefore, dismissed the petition and awarded the cost of N100, 000 in favour of each of the respondents against the petitioners.
A Counsel to Udende said he would appeal.
