In a recent ruling, the National Assembly Elections Tribunal, convened in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, has upheld the victories of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in the House of Representatives and Senate elections.
Musa Agah, who was elected as the representative of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, has seen his victory confirmed by the tribunal. The challenge brought forth by Mohammed Gwani of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) could not establish allegations of electoral misconduct, including over-voting, and questions related to the nomination and sponsorship of the winning candidate.
Similarly, the tribunal dismissed the petition raised by Gyang Zi of the Labour Party (LP) against Simon Mwadkwon of the PDP, who secured the Plateau North Senatorial seat. The tribunal ruled that the petition lacked merit.
The tribunal’s assessment centered on two key aspects: the eligibility of the PDP candidates during the February 25, 2023 polls, and whether the elections were conducted in accordance with the provisions outlined in the Electoral Act of 2022.
In a unanimous decision, the tribunal determined that only members of a political party or the party itself hold the legal standing to contest the nomination and sponsorship of a candidate. It was emphasized that issues regarding candidate nomination and sponsorship fall within the domain of pre-election matters.
On the matter of over-voting, the tribunal unanimously concluded that the petitioners failed to substantiate the accuracy or inaccuracy of the election results. The presented witnesses lacked any direct connection to the elections and failed to produce any relevant documents, such as the voters’ register, which would have been necessary to prove their claims.
Consequently, the tribunal dismissed both petitions on the grounds of lacking merit, without imposing any associated costs.
This tribunal’s ruling has not only validated the success of the PDP candidates but also reinforced the principle that challenges to candidate nomination and sponsorship must be raised by party members or the party itself. Moreover, the decision highlighted the necessity of concrete evidence, such as the voters’ register, in cases involving claims of over-voting or electoral misconduct.
