The Taraba Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Wednesday dismissed the petition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Abubakar Danladi, in the March 9 governorship election in the state.
On March 21, the tribunal for Taraba State relocated to Abuja due to concerns over the security of its members and the petitioners.
In his ruling, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice M.O. Adewarahe said the petition was dismissed because of the July 5 Supreme Court judgement, NAN reports.
The Supreme Court judgment had upheld the Appeal Court verdict that disqualified Danladi on the grounds of false declaration of age.
The governorship candidate of the APC, Danladi and the party had approached the tribunal to challenge the victory of Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The petitioners claimed that the governor was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast in the election.
They further claimed that the governor’s election was invalid by reason of non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).
The petitioners further claimed that Ishaku’s election was invalid as a result of corrupt practices.
Joined as respondent in the petition is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
NAN reports that the Apex court dismissed the appeal filed before it by Danladi, challenging his disqualification by the Federal High Court in Jalingo. A five-man Panel of the Supreme Court headed by the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Mohammed, dismissed the appeal filed by Danladi for being incompetent and failing to meet the requirements of the law.
Danladi was disqualified from contesting the 2019 Governorship election in Taraba state on March 6, 2019, by the Federal High Court, Jalingo presided over by Honourable Justice Stephen Pam.
The court based its decision on allegations of false declaration of age by Danladi in the documents provided to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, on March 7, 2019, the Court of Appeal sitting in Yola stayed the execution of the judgment of the lower court in favour of Danladi, which enabled him to stand for the March 9 Governorship election in Taraba state.
But the appellate court subsequently struck out the Appeal for being incompetent.
Danladi further appealed to the Supreme Court which affirmed the judgment of the appeal court.
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