The National Assembly Elections Tribunal sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, has affirmed the return of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates for the House of Representatives and the Senate seats respectively.

The election of Musa Agah as member representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency was upheld following the inability of the petitioner, Mohammed Gwani of People’s Redemption Party (PRP) to prove allegations of electoral misconduct concerning over voting as well as nomination and sponsorship of the winner.

In the other judgment, the petition of Gyang Zi of the Labour Party (LP) against Simon Mwadkwon of the PDP for Plateau North Senatorial seat was dismissed for lack of merit.

The two petitions were determined on two issues of whether both PDP candidates at the time of the February 25, 2023 polls were qualified to contest the elections and whether the elections can be said to have been conducted in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

In determining the issues, the tribunal, in a unanimous decision on the two petitions, ruled that only party members or the party itself have the locus standi to challenge the nomination and sponsorship of a candidate. Besides, the issue of nomination and sponsorship of party candidates are pre-election matters.

On the issue of over voting, it was unanimously agreed by the tribunal that the petitioners failed to prove the truth or falsehood of the election results but rather brought witnesses that had no connection whatsoever with the elections or any documents thereof which cannot be proved without presenting the voters’ register.

The petitions were therefore dismissed forthwith for lack of merit without no costs attached.