The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the election of Dr. Agbu Kefas of the Peoples Democratic Party as the duly elected governor of Taraba State.
In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, delivered by Justice Peter Affen, the appellate court dismissed an appeal the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, and its candidate, Prof. Sani Yahaya, filed to challenge the outcome of the governorship election that was held in the state on March 18.
The court held that it found no reason to set aside the verdict of the Taraba State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which had on September 30 declared Kefas the bona fide winner of the gubernatorial poll.
However, the appellate court faulted the tribunal for not striking out the petition the NNPP and its candidate brought before it, saying that it was legally incompetent.
He further held that, having prayed that the election be nullified on account of non-adherence to the Electoral Act, the alternative prayer that they be declared winners of the same election had no legs to stand upon.
Besides, the Court of Appeal held that the record of proceedings transmitted to the court was not complete, thereby rendering their appeal incompetent.
Justice Affen consequently dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.
On September 30, the Tribunal had dismissed the petition filed by the NNPP and its governorship candidate for lacking in merit.
