Kaduna elections tribunal affirms El-Rufai’s victory, quashes Ashiru’s petition as court sacks Ebonyi PDP Reps candidate

Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) thronged the Election Petitions Tribunal in Kaduna celebrating the victory of Nasir El-Rufai as the duly elected governor in the 2019 gubernatorial poll in the state.

In its judgement, the tribunal struck out the petition filed by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) candidate, Alhaji Isah Ashiru, affirming El-Rufai of APC as governor of the state.

Ashiru and the PDP faithful had earlier trooped to the tribunal headed by Justice Ibrahim Bako in anticipation of victory, but Justice Bako struck out his petition for lack of merit and substantial evidence.

Besides, APC supporters who were mobilised from different council areas of the state also stormed the tribunal as early as 6am chanting victory songs from its Taiwo Road premises to Government House, Kaduna in celebration of El-Rufai’s victory.

Relatedly, the election tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State sacked PDP’s House of Representatives candidate for Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Chief Laz Ogbe.

It ruled that APC’s candidate, Chinedu Ogar, won the election as he scored the highest number of valid votes in the poll and was, therefore, returned elected.