Yahaya Bello affirmed as Kogi gov as court dismisses Wada's petition

An Abuja tribunal court has affirmed Yahaya Bello as the winner of the Kogi State governorship election held in 2019.

Musa Wada, the governorship candidate of the PDP, challenged Bello's victory and the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the poll at the tribunal claiming he won the majority of lawful votes cast in the election.

Wada's counsel, Jibril Okutepa, had urged the tribunal to declare Wada as the duly elected governor of Kogi state.

According to The Cable, at least 32 witnesses were called to back their claims that the election was marred by irregularities, violence, ballot snatching and non-compliance with the electoral act and the constitution.

Delivering the judgement on Saturday, two out of three judges on the panel upheld Bello’s election as governor.

However, Ohimai Ovbiagele, one of the judges gave a dissenting decision in favour of Wada.

Bello was represented by Joseph Daudu, who urged the court to dismiss the petition while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was represented by Alex Izinyon.