TRIBUNAL UPHOLDS DARIYE'S ELECTION

By NBF News

By Taye Obateru & Demola  Akinyemi
Jos-The attempt by the PDP to wrest the senatorial seat for Plateau Central District from former Governor Joshua Dariye of the Labour Party has failed as the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal yesterday affirmed his election.

Similarly, former FCT Minister Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni, rtd, of the DPP also failed in his petition against Senator Victor Lar of the PDP for Plateau South District as the tribunal also dismissed his petition.

Delivering separate judgements in the two petitions, the Chairman, Justice Suleiman Ambursa said the petitioners failed to prove their various allegations against the elections to warrant upturning the elections.

In the petition filed by Dr. Dauda Gowon who was the candidate of the PDP against Dariye, the tribunal noted that none of the grounds for the petition which included the non-qualification of Dariye to contest the election and that the election was characterised by irregularities such as multiple voting, ballot box stuffing and so on, was not proved.

…as Bukola Saraki wins
ILORIN-The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, Wednesday upheld the election of the immediate past governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki as Senator representing Kwara Central at the National Assembly, saying that the petitioner's case lacked merit.

The tribunal dismissed the petition filed  by ACN candidate, Dr Ibrahin Oloriegbe, against electoral victory of Saraki in the April 9, 2010 poll for lack of merit.

Interestingly, the same tribunal last week Friday dismissed the petition against Saraki brought before it by the candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Princess Bilkis Gambari.