Tribunal Upholds Taraba APC’s Useni as Winner of NASS Election, Dismisses PDP, NNPP’s Petitions

The Taraba State governorship and national assembly election petition tribunal, located in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, has affirmed the victory of Mark Useni, who represents Takum/Donga/Ussa Federal Constituency.

Useni, a former speaker of the state Assembly, faced petitions from Rimam Shawulu of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Barrister Istifanus Haruna Gbana of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the state’s election tribunal.

The two candidates sought to have the election cancelled and requested a fresh exercise in the constituency. They also asked the tribunal to prevent Useni, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), from assuming his position as the constituency’s lawmaker, claiming that he did not receive enough valid votes to be declared the winner of the election.

In his ruling, the tribunal chairman, Justice Benson Ogbu, dismissed the two petitions, stating that “the petitions lacked evidence.” He further explained that during cross-examination, Useni’s lawyers successfully demonstrated that the APC candidate had won the election with valid votes. Therefore, Useni’s election is considered legally valid.

Useni, upon hearing the ruling, declared the judiciary as the beacon of hope for the common man and urged his opponents to collaborate with him in uplifting the constituency.