Election Tribunals across the nation

As the deadline for the expiration of Election Petition Tribunals sitting across the country draws nearer, results emanating from the Tribunals has so far shown mixed feelings among the various political parties fighting their cases after the 2015 general elections.
While the Court of Appeal is regarded as the last resort for National and State legislative election petitions, presidential and governorship election petitions terminates at the Supreme Court.
The various petitions presently going on at the tribunals are expected to be decided this month ahead of the 180 day time limit stipulated by the Electoral Act after the declaration of election results by the Independent Electoral Commission, (INEC).
So far, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) seems to be at the losing end especially at the National Assembly election petitions that has been delivered across the states by the Tribunal. The PDP has also gained in some of the petitions that has been decided.
Some of the petitions that has been delivered by the Tribunals includes that of Abia, Enugu, Ogun and Kogi states.
The All Progressives Congress, (APC) has also lost some seats in the National Assembly petitions that has been delivered so far even though the number is not as much as that of the PDP.

Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe --- Abia PDP lost
The election of Enyinnaya Abaribe was nullified by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia. Delivering the judgement, the lead judge stated that the election of Senator Abaribe was inconclusive due to irregularities in two local government areas namely Obi gnaw and Ugwunagbo.
The candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chris Nkwonta, had petitioned the tribunal seeking nullification of Abaribe’s election on the basis of electoral irregularities.
Senator Abaribe, a three-term senator has been in the Senate representing Abia-South since 2007.


Senator Gilbert Nnaji --- Enugu PDP lost
The National Assembly Election Tribunal led by Justice M.O Adewara in Enugu state nullified the election of Gilbert Nnaji of the PDP and ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election in 90days for Enugu East Senatorial District.
Delivering the lead judgement, Adewara of Kwara State High Court agreed with the petitioner that the March 30, 2015 Enugu East senatorial election that produced Nnaji was marred by gross irregularities and that the petitioner which is the former Governor, Chimaroke Nnamani of the Peoples Democratic Change, (PDC), tendered enough evidence to show there was over voting and falsification of electoral sheets.
Senator Buruji Kashamu --- Ogun PDP lost
The Election Tribunal in Ogun State nullified the election of Buruji Kashamu and ordered a re-run in 110 polling units where irregularities were established.
Prince Dapo Abiodun, candidate of the APC, Ogun East Senatorial candidate in the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly Election challenged Kashamu’s victory at the tribunal claiming that Kashamu was not validly elected.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Tobi Ebimowei said that there were some irregularities, anomalies in the election that threw up Senator Kashamu.
Ebimowei disclosed that Ijebu Ode local government area was the only local government out of the nine in Ogun East that election results were not cancelled because the irregularities were minimal.
He however stated that having perused all the evidences before the tribunal,37,008 votes was declared unlawful on grounds of proven irregularities.
Ebimowei also said the total valid and lawful votes for the first respondent after the deduction and adjustment is now 75,856 compared to 99,540 declared by INEC.
Senator Ike Ekweremadu --- Won by PDP
The election of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu was upheld by Justice Michael Edem maintaining that the APC Senatorial Candidate for Enugu West, Chief Philip Eze's petition lacked substantial evidence and awarded a sum of 60thousand in favour of Ekweremadu and INEC the last respondent.
Edem said the petitioner failed to prove his case, adding that the evidence adduced in the trial showed that the petitioner was included and not “excluded” in the senatorial election which held on March 28, 2015.
At the conclusion of the election, INEC had declared Ekweremadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner. Unsatisfied, Eze had approached tribunal complaining that he was excluded from the election.

Senator Abdulrahman Abubakar --- Kogi APC lost
Senator Abdulrahman Abubakar of the APC lost his senatorial seat to Attai Aidoko of the PDP after the Kogi State Elections Petition Tribunal ruled in favour of the PDP.
The Kogi State Elections Petition Tribunal handling petitions in the State ruled that Senator Abubakar should cede his seat to Aidoko because he is the legitimate winner of the April 11 the legislative election in the State.

Senator Bukola Saraki --- Won by PDP
The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki is one of the latest Senators who had his election upheld by the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital,
Saraki who is the President of the Senate had his election challenged for Kwara Central Senatorial District by the PDP candidate, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
The claims by the PDP Candidate that the there was an improper conduct was dismissed and it therefore means Saraki remains the president of the county’s upper chamber.


House of Representatives
Ogun State --- PDP lost
Adekoya Adesegun Majid, the candidate of the PDP for Ijebu East, Ijebu North and Ogun waterside at the last March 28, 2015 National Assembly elections had his election annulled just as the Senator representing the zone, Buruji Kashamu.
Justice Tobi Ebimowei led three man tribunal panel ordered fresh election in 222 units where irregularities were noticed, following the successful challenge by Biyi Ismail of the APC.
Ismail had approached the court to declare him winner of the March 28 ,2015 National Assembly election in the state.
The tribunal stated that the petitioner presented 21 witnesses while the respondent called 15 witnesses.
The petitioner adduced that many irregularities and non compliance marred the election and thereby called for the annulment of the election.
Total votes adduced to the respondent after deduction was 14,371 while the respondent had 14,234. With the majority votes being a slim 137 votes the Judge said it was much lower than the cancelled votes.

Anambra State --- PDP won
The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal for Anambra state declared Tony Nwoye of the PDP the winner in a petition brought against the election of Peter Madubueze of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
According to the judgement delivered by Justice Nayai Aganaba in Awka, he declared Mr. Nwoye as the duly elected candidate for the House of Representatives for Anambra East and West constituency.
Mr. Nwonye had approached the tribunal asking it to set aside the election of the APGA candidate because the elections had been rigged in several polling units in his strongholds at Nsugbe Ward I and ll in Anambra East local government area.
The tribunal sided with Mr. Nwoye and declared him winner by awarding him 3,003 votes from Nsugbe "Ward l" that was initially denied him during the April 11 National and State Assemblies elections in Nigeria

Rivers state --- APC lost
It was a major setback for APC members in Rivers state as Justice Pindinga refused to annul the elections of 6House of Representatives members and that of Rivers East Senatorial District.
The PDP lawmakers whose elections were upheld by the tribunal were Senator George Sekibo, representing Rivers East Senatorial District; Jerome Eke (Etche/Omuma federal constituency); Bright Gogo Tamuno (Okrika/Ogu-Bolu); Boniface Emerengwe, (Ikwerre/Emeouha), Kingsley Chinda (Obio/ Akpor) and Mrs. Blessing Nsiegbe for PHALGA 2.