*It’s A Victory For Democracy, Rule Of Law, Says Fintiri
The Adamawa Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Saturday affirmed
the election Gov Ahmadu Fintiri in the March 18 poll, dismissing the petition by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Aishatu Binani.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Theodora Uloho, the Chairman of the tribunal said the petition failed to established the allegation of non adherence with the Electoral Act during the election.
“The petitioner failed to establish the allegation of non- compliance with the electoral act and prove the case with cogent, credible and satisfactory evidence.
“All documents tendered by the petitioner were dumped on the tribunal and that the star witness did not demonstrate any of the documents to link it with any of their material allegation in the petition,” she said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Fintiri as the winner after he scored
430,861 votes to defeat Binani who scored 398,788 votes.
However, Binani filed a petition challenging the declaration, alleging that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the electoral act.
Reacting, Mr Sani Garba, the Counsel to Binani said he would study the judgment and intimate the petitioners on the next line of action.
Meanwhile, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa has described his victory at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal as “victory to democracy and the rule of law”.
Fintiri stated this shortly after the tribunal dismissed APC’s Aishatu Binani petition against his re-election for the second term in Yola on Saturday.
Reacting, Fintiri assured the people of good governance. According to him, this victory is also a victory for doing more to ensure massive development in the state.
He called on the litigants to step aside in order to move ahead for the development of the state and county at large.
He appreciated the tribunal judges for the role played in ensuring fairness and justice.
Fintiri also commended his legal team, journalists and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for their roles from the time of the election up to the tribunal judgment.
