Jibrin Barde, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State has approach the election tribunal to challenge the victory of Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, who was re-elected as as the state governor.
WikkiTimes learnt that Barde was at the tribunal on Tuesday to question the result of the March 18 governorship poll in the state.
Professor Maimuna Waziri, Returning Officer for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Gombe, had said All Progressives Congress’ (APC) Yahaya polled 342,821 votes while his closest challenger, Barde scored 233,131 and the New Nigeria Peoples Party’s Khamisu Mailantarki came a distant third with 19,861 votes.
The defendants in the petition include INEC, Governor Yahaya and his party, the APC.
“The 1st Petitioner, Jibrin Muhammad Barde, who voted and had the right to vote and be voted for was a candidate at the election to the office of Governor of Gombe State held on the 18th day of March 2023.
“The 1st Petitioner contested the said election on the platform of and was sponsored by the 2nd petitioner, and states that he has a right to be returned as elected at the said election.
“The 2nd Petitioner, the PDP is a duly registered political party in Nigeria that sponsored the 1st petitioner to contest the election into the office of Governor of Gombe State held on the 18 day of March 2023,” a petition submitted to the tribunal read.
Meanwhile, THE PUNCH reports that some other petitions sighted in the tribunal include that of the candidate of the PDP in Gombe Central senatorial district, Abubakar Aliyu, against the winner Danjuma Goje of the APC; Victor Mela member representing Billiri/Balanga against the winner and candidate of the PDP, Isa Ali.
Others are Ahmad Bose of the PDP against the current member representing Akko Federal Constituency and the winner of the election into the House of Representative seat in the area, APC’s Usman Kumo; David Yako of Labour Party against the adjudged winner Anthony Yaro of the PDP and Gombe State lone female member in the House of Assembly Asma’u Ignanus of APC against winner Zubairu Ayala of PDP.
