TheCable

The national and state house assemblies election petitions tribunal in Kaduna has affirmed the election of  Sunday Katung as the senator representing Kaduna south. 

The tribunal on Wednesday dismissed the petition filed by Michael Auta, candidate of the Labour Party (LP) against Katung’s victory at the poll.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Katung, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  as the winner of the senatorial election held on February 25.

The PDP candidate scored 138,246 votes against 101,479 votes polled by Auta.

Auta and the LP had approached the tribunal, alleging that  Katung did not win the election by a majority of lawful votes cast.

They also argued that the election was invalid for reason of noncompliance with the provisions of the electoral act 2022.

However, in a unanimous judgment, the tribunal led by Oyinkansola Oluboyede, held that the quality of witnesses called by the petitioners was not enough to strengthen or sustain their petitions.

The judge held that the evidence adduced by the petitioners was weak and porous, adding that they failed to provide substantial evidence to prove the case of non-compliance with the electoral act and violence during the election.