BREAKING: Tribunal Gives Verdict on Adamawa Governor's Fate

• The Adamawa state governorship election petition has upheld the victory of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri in the March 18 election
• Umar Ardo, the governorship candidate of the SDP in the election, had filed a petition against Fintiri and the PDP over alleged electoral malpractices and violence
• But the court on Monday dismissed the petitions of Ardo and the SDP over lack of merit and being defective

The Adamawa State governorship election petition tribunal in Yola has dismissed the petitions filed by Umar Ardo, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the March 18 election in the state.

According to Daily Trust, the court, in its verdict on Monday, October 2, affirmed that Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged victor in the election.

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Ardo and the SDP are challenging Fintiri's victory before the tribunal on the grounds that there was violence, threats and corrupt practices during the election.

They have prayed that the tribunal should nullify the election.

Why court dismisses SDP petitions against Governor Fintiri

But Justice Theodora Uloho-led three-man panel dismissed the petition in their judgment on Monday, stating that it lacked merit, was defective, and was incompetent.

Ardo and the SDP have joined INEC, Fintiri and 16 others as respondents in a petition filed on May 8, 2023. The petitioner alleged that the election was conducted without compliance with the Electoral Act.

During the election, the governor was also accused of corrupt practices such as bribery, violence and threat, and asked the court to nullify the entire electoral exercise.

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However, in their responses, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents said the petition was statute-barred and the tribunal cannot entertain such. They argued that the petition lacked evidence and was not filed by the provisions of the Electoral Act.

"Why not make it 50": Buzz as PDP gov announces names of 47 media aides

Legit.ng earlier reported that Nigerians have condemned the announcement of 47 media aides by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the PDP.

The PDP governor on Thursday evening, in a tweet, released the names of two special advisers, 10 senior special advisers and 35 special assistants on social media and content creation.

Consequently, some Nigerians took to the comment section of the tweet to lament the high cost of governance on the part of political leaders.

Source: Legit.ng