Tribunal Sacks PDP Senator In Niger, Declares APC Candidate Winner

SAN FRANCISCO, January 30, (THEWILL) – The victory secured by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu, at the Niger East Senatorial by-election has been upturned by the National Assembly Elections Petitions tribunal in a ruling delivered on Friday in Minna, Niger State capital.

The tribunal declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister David Umaru, as the rightful winner of the by-election.

The by-election was conducted on August 30, 2014 and concluded on September 6, 2014.

Chairman of the 3-man tribunal, Justice Ibrahim Bako, who delivered the ruling of the tribunal declared Umaru winner having polled 79,779 votes ahead of Nuhu, who polled 68,525 votes.

Following the declaration of the PDP's candidate as winner of the poll by the electoral commission, the APC's candidate had approached the tribunal seeking a nullification of the Nuhu's victory on the premise he did not win majority of the votes.

In his lengthy ruling, Justice Bako said, “… That an order is granted nullifying the return of the 1st Respondent (Nuhu) on the ground that he did not win the majority of the lawful votes cast at the election held on August 30, 2014 and concluded on September 6, 2014 at the Niger East Senatorial district.

“That an order declaring the 1st Petitioner as the winner of the election held on August 30 but concluded on September 6, 2014, having won the majority of the lawful votes at the election and he is hereby granted.”

With the development, the APC now holds two senatorial seats in the state – Niger East and Niger North Senatorial districts, while PDP controls Niger South senatorial district.