The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State has dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate, Mr Labaran Maku, against Governor Umaru Al-Makura of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for lack of merit.
Maku, a former Minister of Information in the Goodluck Jonathan administration, had challenged Al-Makura’s victory in the April 11 general elections at the tribunal.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Halima Mohammed, dismissed Maku’s petition on Wednesday and said the petitioner failed to prove his case.
Maku had alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, guidelines for the election and other relevant laws in his petition.
The judge said that the petitioner also failed to prove that the alleged non-compliance substantially affected the outcome of the said election.
“Based on that, I therefore strike out the petition filed by Labaran Maku of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) against Umaru Al-Makura of All Progressives Congress (APC).
Addressing newsmen shortly after the judgement, Titi Chaku, counsel to Maku, said the team would study it and consult with Maku in order to decide on the next line of action.
On his part, the counsel for APC, Mr Yusuf Usman (SAN), expressed satisfaction with the judgment and said that his client had been vindicated by the decision.
