Bala survives sacking, as tribunal dismisses ex-COAS Sadique’s petition in Bauchi
Bauchi Governorship Election Tribunal Petitions has affirmed the election of Senator Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the governor of the state.
The tribunal dismissed the petition filed by Abubakar Sadique and his party, All Progressive Congress (APC), which challenged Mohammed’s victory in the March 18 governorship election in the state.
Abubakar Sadique is also the country’s former Chief of Air Staff (COAS) under the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Delivering judgement, Wednesday, the Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice P.T. Kwahar, said the petitioner faulted the election in some polling units of Toro; Dass, Zaki, Itas-Gadau, Alkaleri, Bauchi, Tafawa Balewa, Ningi, Dambam and Ganjuwa Local Government Areas of the state.
He said that the petitioners failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt alleged manipulation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the election.
He said that the petitioner’s witnesses presented evidence based on hearsay as they were not present at the polling units.
The Chairman said the witnesses did not demonstrate enough to show that the results of the election were mutilated, manipulated or tampered as claimed.
“They have failed to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the APC candidate won the election.
“The election of the 18th of March, 2023 was conducted in total compliance with the Electoral Act and the petition is hereby dismissed.”
He said the return of the second respondent as the truly elected governor of Bauchi State by the first respondent (INEC) in the conduct of the governorship election of the 18th of March, 2023 has been affirmed.
