Kogi East: Tribunal sacks APC Senator, orders supplementary election

“The Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal on Tuesday sacked Senator Jibrin Isah (APC), who represented the Kogi East Senatorial district. The tribunal also directed a rerun election in 94 polling units where the election results had been nullified during the February Senatorial election.

Justice K.A. Orjiako, the tribunal’s Chairman, pronounced the judgment in response to the petition presented by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Victor Adoji. Justice Orjiako concurred with the petitioners’ requests.

Adoji, through his legal counsel, Mr. Johnson Usman (SAN), challenged Jibrin Isah’s election victory on the grounds that elections had been cancelled in certain polling units where the number of collected PVCs exceeded the margin of the respondent’s win.

The petitioner implored the tribunal to invalidate Isah’s election and order a supplementary election in the affected 94 polling units within the senatorial district.

In a unanimous decision, the Tribunal, led by Justice K.A. Orjiako, supported the petitioners’ arguments. Isah’s victory was annulled, and his certificate of return was revoked.

“Considering that 59,730 PVCs were collected in the 94 polling units, while the margin of victory was 26,922 votes, the Returning Officer should have declared the election inconclusive instead of making a return.

As a result, this honorable Tribunal granted the relief requested by the Petitioners. Furthermore, we nullify the Certificate of Return issued to Jibrin Isah.

The tribunal also ordered INEC to conduct a supplementary election in the affected polling units where the election did not take place or was canceled to determine the winner,” Justice Orjiako announced.

Senator Jibrin Isah (APC), who was serving his second term, held the position of Senate Committee Chairman on Customs, Excise, and Tariffs.”