Just In: Tribunal Sacks Speaker Of Taraba Assembly

By Chris Nomjov

The Speaker of  Taraba state House of Assembly, Abel Diah, on Wednesday, had his election into the State Legislature, annulled, by the National and State Elections Tribunal, sitting in Jalingo, Taraba state.

The Tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, to isolate the Certificate of Return, handed to Hon. Diah, upon his declaration as the winner of the elections, earlier this year.

Delivering its judgment, the National and Houses of Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal ruled that elections in eight out of the nine polling units, challenged by the petitioner, were conducted against the provision of the 2010 Electoral Act.

According to the tribunal, polls conducted in the eight polling units in the Mbamnwere null and void.

The tribunal declared the elections inconclusive and ordered INEC to conduct fresh polls within 90 days beginning from Wednesday in the eight affected polling units.

The judges ordered the electoral umpire to set aside the certificate of return earlier issued to the Speaker.

The APC Chairman in the state, Hassan Ardo, while addressing journalists, thanked the tribunal for a factual judgement.

There has been no word from Hon. Diah or his counsel, on the judgement.