The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Lokoja, Kogi State, has removed Jibrin Isah of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the senator representing Kogi East senatorial district.
It directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold a supplementary election between him and Victor Adoji of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Tribunal ordered a rerun in 94 polling units with over 59,730 votes in its verdict on Tuesday.
The Tribunal Chairman, Justice K.A. Orjiako, who delivered the judgement on the petition brought before it by Adoji, agreed with the PDP candidate’s prayers through his Counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN), challenging Isah’s return on the grounds that elections were cancelled in some polling units where the number of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) collected exceeded the margin of his (Chocho’s) victory.
The petitioner had asked the Tribunal to overturn Isah’s election and hold a supplementary election in the concerned polling units.
In a unanimous Tribunal decision, Justice Orjiako concurred with Usman (SAN) submission, annulling Isah’s victory and ordering the removal of his certificate of return.
“Since the PVCs collected in the 94 polling units is 59,730, while the margin of win is 26,922 votes, the Returning Officer ought to have declared the election inconclusive without making a return.
“Consequently, this honourable Tribunal hereby grants the reliefs sought by the Petitioners. We also set aside the Certificate of Return issued to Jibrin Isah.
“The Tribunal hereby also orders INEC to conduct a supplementary election in the affected polling units where the election did not hold or cancelled in order to determine the winner, ” Justice Orjiako declared.
Isah had garnered 108,784 votes the highest against Adoji who scored 81,867 in the March 2023 senatorial election.
