The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kaduna on Thursday evening declared the Kaduna governorship election inconclusive.
The petition was filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate, Isah Mohammed Ashiru against Uba Sani of the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 governorship election held in the state on March 18, 2023.
In a split decision of a ratio of 2:1, the three-man tribunal panel led by Justice Victor Oviawe declared that the election was inconclusive and thus directed that a supplementary election should be held by the Independent National Electoral Commission within 90 days.
Africa Today News, New York reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had headed to the tribunal to challenge the election of Uba Sani as the sitting Governor of Kaduna State.
The PDP had baked its arguments on the grounds of alleged irregularities and electoral fraud, deposing that its candidate (PDP candidate), Isa Mohammed Ashiru, won the election.
The tribunal ruled further that INEC is to conduct election in seven wards, four local govts, 24 polling units consisting of 16,300 registered voters.
During the hearing of the petition, the PDP and Ashiru called 24 witnesses and presented claims and documents to prove their case.
In a statement on his verified Facebook account, Ashiru said;
‘First, I give glory to God Almighty for the progress made so far in our effort to reclaim the mandate given to us by the good people of Kaduna State. I also thank the people of the state for widely believing in me and the PDP,” the PDP candidate wrote.
‘Also, given the ruling of the Kaduna state election tribunal, it has become necessary to share with our teaming supporters, the true position of the ruling.
‘The tribunal by a split decision of 2:1 accordingly, nullified the election of the governor of Kaduna state, ordered that the Certificate of Return be retrieved and fresh elections be conducted in some polling units in 4 LGAs and the outcome thereof be reckoned with before the declaration of the winner of the governorship election in Kaduna state,’ Ashiru said.
‘I want to again thank the people of the state while urging them all to remain law abiding while we pursue the appeal process.
‘One thing I can assure the good people of Kaduna state is that I will pursue this mandate you freely gave me to its logical conclusion and by the grace of God, victory on our side.