The election petition tribunal sitting in Jalingo has nullified the election of the Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon Abel Peter Diah.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday in the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Mbamga state constituency, Mr. Emmanuel Bongo, the tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to the Speaker pending the conclusion of elections in eight polling units in the constituency.
The APC candidate had filed a petition before the tribunal challenging the victory of Hon Diah on the grounds that election in nine polling units of the constituency did not conform substantially to the provisions of the Electoral Act.
In the ruling, which was read by Justice A.M Ali, on behalf of the three man panel of justices, the tribunal held that election in eight polling units out of the total 48 polling units did not conform substantially with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended and therefore, ordered the INEC to conduct fresh election in the eight polling units within 90 days.
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