Gombe State Election Petitions Tribunal Nullifies Speaker's Victory, Orders Rerun

The Gombe State Governorship/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, which convened in Gombe, has nullified the electoral victory of Hon. Abubakar Leggerowo, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. The Tribunal, presided over by Justice Michael Ugar, made the decision on the grounds that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had canceled votes cast in certain polling units within the constituency.

The petitioner had raised concerns before the Tribunal, asserting that INEC's decision to cancel votes in specific polling units had unfairly favored the defendant during the March 18, 2023 elections.

Justice Ugar's ruling held that the cancellation of results in units 001, 024, and 014 of Kumo East in Akko local government area of the state by INEC was erroneous. As a result, the Tribunal ordered the electoral commission to conduct a rerun election within the next 30 days to determine the true winner of the legislative seat.

This decision by the Election Petitions Tribunal underscores the significance of upholding the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that all votes are counted accurately. The rerun election will provide voters in the affected constituency with an opportunity to participate in a fair and transparent electoral process to select their representative.

The nullification of the Speaker's victory and the upcoming rerun election serve as a reminder of the importance of adherence to electoral rules and the principle of free and fair elections in a democratic society.