The Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the election of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the Governor of Kogi State.
Mr Musa Wada, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 election had filed a petition challenging the declaration of the incumbent Governor as duly elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a judgment of two to one, delivered by the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Kashim Kaigama, on Saturday, the tribunal held that the petitioner failed to prove the allegations of over-voting, massive thumb printing, voter intimidation, and other electoral malpractices.
The tribunal then awarded a cost of one million naira to be paid by the petitioners, PDP and Musa Wada to INEC, Yahaya Bello and APC who are the respondents.
In a dissenting judgment, Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele nullified the election of Governor Yahaya Bello and ordered INEC to conduct fresh elections in seven local government areas where the petitioners proved their allegations of over-voting, thuggery, voter intimidation, massive thumb printing, and other electoral malpractices.
