Plateau, Yobe govs retain seats

Isaac Shobayo, Jos - 27.02.2008

The Court of Appeal in Jos has upheld the ruling of the Yobe State election petition tribunal which earlier dismissed the petition filed by Alhaji Adamu Waziri of the People Democratic Party (PDP), now a serving minister, against the election of Alhaji Mamman Ali as the governor of the state.

Also on Tuesday, the court struck out the petition filed by the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate in Plateau State challenging the election of Governor Jonah Jang.

In his judgment on the Yobe appeal, Justice I. A Salami upheld the ruling of the tribunal, saying it was right in its judgment by dismissing the claim that Governor Ali, elected on the platform of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), was not properly nominated.

“The lower tribunal is right. The final resort in the main appeal is devoid of merit and hereby consequently dismissed. No merit in the appeal and the decision of the lower tribunal is thereby affirmed.”

In the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the Action Congress In Plateau State, Mr. Pam Dung Gyang, challenging the ruling of the tribunal in Jos which dismissed his petition against Governor Jang on the grounds that it was not filed within the stipulated period, the Court of Appeal upheld the judgment of the tribunal.