Wada is Kogi gov 'Tribunal

THE governorship election petitions tribunal sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Thursday, declared Captain Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the December 3, 2011 governorship election in the state.Prince Abubakar Audu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) had challenged the victory of Captain Wada as governor.Delivering his judgment, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Suleiman Anbursa, said the petitioners failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt, adding that allegations levelled against Wada could not be substantiated.He said the allegations of multiple voting, electoral violence, rigging and inducement of voters by the petitioners were not stated specifically, as the testimonies of the witnesses were contradictory.Justice Anbursa equally added that whether by oral or in documentary, the petitioners failed to prove their allegations and subsequently decided the judgment in favour of the respondents.He subsequently dismissed the petition for want of evidence and affirmed the election of Captain Wada.Reacting, Governor Wada said the victory was a testimony that the people voted for him.Addressing newsmen immediately after the judgment, he thanked God for his victory, stressing that he won at the poll and also at the tribunal.The governor, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media Affairs and Strategy, Mr Jacob Edi, said from every indication, the ACN lost, which showed the party only went to the tribunal for the fun of it.Also reacting, Prince Audu said he was moving to the next level of war, adding that it was merely a judgment without justice.'The battle to reclaim our mandate is the battle of no retreat no surrender; the whole thing was one sided, no mentioned of reference of any cross examination of the PDP,' he said.Audu, who spoke through Mr Dino Melaye, noted that he would do everything possible to reclaim his stolen mandate.The deputy governor, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, said the verdict should in the interest of peace, while he called opposition to support Governor Wada in his bid to build a virile, united, peaceful and focused Kogi State.
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