Sylvanus Viashima , Jalingo.
The National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal siting in Jalingo, Taraba State capital on Monday affim the election of Hon. Peter Abel Diah, the former speaker of the state house of assembly and member representing Mbamga at the Taraba State House of Assembly.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP Emmanuel Bongo and his party through a suit filed a petition to challenge the victory of Diah at the tribunal.
The petitioner approached the tribunal on two grounds and sought for nullification of the election over non compliance by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC during the process of the election
He also petitioned that the former speaker was not a member of the All Progressive Congress APC as at the time the party (APC) nominated him (Diah) to participate in the state house of assembly election from the Mbamga state constituency.
The three member panel led by Justice Benson Ogbu during his ruling dismissed the petition, stating that “the two petitions collapse on failure of prove by the petitioner”
Ogbu while reading the judgement stated that during the cross examination, counsel to Diah were able to prove to the tribunal that Diah was an authentic member of the APC as at the time of the primary election.
He also said Bongo and the PDP faired to prove to the tribunal the evidence of non compliance by INEC during the state assembly election.
In his reaction, counsel to PDP Bar. Joseph Oguche said he would study the details of the judgment and consult his client for further actions, Lawyer to APC Bar. Festus Idekpefor while commenting on the ruling hailed the three man panel for giving a straight forward judgment that could take a test of time to be contested against.
