The Adamawa State election petition tribunal sitting in Yola on Wednesday dismissed the petition filed by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its governorship candidate, Markus Gundiri challenging the victory of Murtala Nyako of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 4 February 2012 governorship polls.
The tribunal headed by Justice Bitrus Sanga also awarded a N50, 000 cost against Mr Gundiri and his party the ACN.
The ACN and its candidate in the Adamawa State governorship election had challenged the outcome of the election on the ground electoral malpractices.
The petitioner, Mr Gundiri, had alleged that there were cases of diversion of ballot boxes, multiple voting, rigging, stuffing and snatching of ballot boxes, falsification of election result, monetary inducement and intimidation of voters by the PDP-led government.
Mr Gundiri and the ACN were specifically challenging the election result in 11 local government areas of the state which includes Fufore, Maiha, Mayo-Belwa, Yola North, Yola South, Gireir, Madagali, Mubi North, Toungi, Numan and Demsa local government councils mostly believed to be a stronghold of the ruling PDP in the state.
Justice Sanga leading a three man panel however dismissed the petition saying the petitioner failed to prove that the election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not “substantially comply with the electoral guidelines”.
