By Nahum Sule (Taraba State Correspondent, in Jalingo)
The National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal siting in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, on Monday, affirmed the election of the former Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly and member representing Takum/Ussa Donga federal constituency, Mark Bako Useni.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Istifanus Gbana, his party and Liman Shaulu of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) through a suit filed a petition at the tribunal to challenge the victory of Useni as member representing the federal constituency.
The petitioners approached the tribunal on grounds of non compliance of electoral act in the re-run election of the constituency. Both parties sought for nullification of the election over non compliance of electoral laws by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC during the process of the election
They also petitioned that the former speaker who is the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) did not acquire the lawful number of votes to be declared as winner of the House of Representative of the Ussa, Donga Takum federal constituency.
The three member panel led by Justics Benson Ogbu, during his ruling, dismissed the petitions of the two candidates and their parties, stating that "the petitions collapsed on failure of proof by the petitioners"
Ogbu while reading the judgement, stated that during the cross examination, counsel to Useni were able to prove to the tribunal that the candidate of the APC won the election with lawful votes "and his election remain valid in the eyes of the law.
In his reaction, the former Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly and member representing Takum, Ussa and Donga at the House of Representatives, Hon. Mark Useni, described the judiciary as the last hope for common Nigerians.
Useni also called on the candidate of the PDP, Istifanus Gbana, that of NNPP, Liman Shaulu, to take the judgment in good faith and join hands with him to bring about good welfare and development to the people of the federal constituency. NNL
