Tribunal Sacks Taraba Governor, Declares APC Candidate, Alhassan Winner

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja has nullified the election of the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared Alhaja Aisha Alhassan of All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of April 11, 2015 gubernatorial poll.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Musa Abubakar, had on October 7 reserved judgment indefinitely after hearing the final submissions of the counsels.

Justice Abubakar ruled that Ishaku of the PDP was not qualified to contest for the April 11 governorship election as he was not properly nominated to contest on the platform of the party.

Abubakar stated that the PDP failed to conduct primary for Taraba State governorship election in line with Section 177 of Nigeria’s Constitution and therefore declared Alhassan winner of the election.

Before the judgment, Alhassan had been appointed a Minister by President Muhammadu Buhari and had already been confirmed by the Senate.

It is likely that Ishaku will head to the Appeal Court to appeal the judgment of the Tribunal.