By Kamil Opeyemi
The Bauchi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has affirmed the victory of Governor Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18th governorship election held in the state.
The tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
The three-man panel chaired by Justice P.T Kwahar held that there is no strong reason to nullify the election as the election was conducted in compliance with the law.
Justice Kwahar said the petitioner faulted the election in some polling units of Toro; Dass, Zaki, Itas-Gadau, Alkaleri, Bauchi, Tafawa Balewa, Ningi, Dambam and Ganjuwa Local Government Areas of the state.
He said that the petitioners failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt alleged manipulation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the election.
He said that the petitioner’s witnesses presented evidence based on hearsay as they were not present at the polling units.
They Chairman said the witnesses did not demonstrate enough to show that the results of the election were mutilated, manipulated or tampered as claimed.
“They have failed to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the APC candidate won the election.
“The election of the 18th of March, 2023 was conducted in total compliance with the Electoral Act and the petition is hereby dismissed.
“Consequently, the return of the second respondent as the truly elected governor of Bauchi State by the first respondent (INEC) in the conduct of the governorship election of the 18th of March, 2023 is hereby affirmed,”he ruled
INEC had in March declared that Mohammed polled 525,280 to beat his closest rival and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Air Marshal Abubakar who polled 432,272.