SAN FRANCISCO, October 26, (THEWILL) – There is great excitement in Jos,the Plateau State capital, as the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Monday upheld the election of Simon Lalong as governor of the state.
The tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Gyang Pwajok, saying it lacked merit.
Recall that Pwajok had challenged the victory of Lalong of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) but in his ruling Monday, the chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Johnson Candida, held that the all the petitions presented by the petitioners were based on documentary hearsay.
“The tribunal holds that the petitioners abandoned their criminal case and concentrated on civil matters and therefore could not prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.
”The tribunal also holds that all the petitions presented by the petitioners were base on documentary hearsay.”
”On the allegation of over voting, the petitioners were not able to prove their case, because they needed to have provided witnesses to speak to the documents presented.”
”The petitioners didn’t disclose any reason to make the tribunal take further action, and so the case is hereby dismissed for lack of merit,” Justice Candida declared.”
The declaration came as the tribunal directed the petitioners to pay N50, 000 fine each to the three respondents, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC, and Gov. Lalong.
Reacting to the judgement, counsel to APC, Garba Pwul (SAN), described it as victory for the Nigerian judiciary, adding that the judgment was a clear evidence that the Nigerian judicial system was making headway.
According to Pwul, the judgment had gone a long way to make Nigeria better.
