The Adamawa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, on Sunday, rejected the petition submitted by Dr. Umar Ardo, the gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), challenging the electoral victory of the incumbent governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)…CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Dr. Ardo had lodged this petition after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Fintiri as the winner of the March 18 governorship election. Ardo’s petition, which named INEC, Fintiri, and 16 others as respondents, alleged that the March 18 election did not adhere to the Electoral Act’s substantial compliance.

The petitioners, Dr. Ardo and the SDP, also claimed that the election overseen by the first respondent (INEC) was tainted by corrupt practices such as bribery, threats, and violence. Consequently, they sought to have the entire election nullified.

In response, the first to fourth respondents argued that the petition was time-barred and therefore ineligible for consideration by the Tribunal. They alleged that the petition lacked supporting evidence and did not adhere to the Electoral Act’s provisions.

However, in the verdict delivered by Tribunal Chairman Justice T. O. Uloho, it was declared that the petition was inadequate, flawed, inconsistent, and improperly instituted before the Tribunal. It was noted that the petitioners’ objectives were unclear.