Tribunal upholds PDP Rep. Kamale’s election

The Legislative Houses Election Petition Tribunal for Adamawa sitting in Abuja on Tuesday upheld the election of Rep. Adamu Kamale of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 
Mr Umar Duhu of the All Progressives Congress had challenged the victory of Kamale in the rescheduled Adamawa polls on April 11.
The tribunal Chairman, Justice Anthony Onovo, in his judgment struck out the petition, holding that it was a pre-election matter.
 Onovo said the tribunal was empowered by law to handle only matters that arose during the conduct of elections. He added that the issue of nomination of a candidate was the internal affair of a political party and not a matter for the tribunal.
Duhu, had sought for the nullification of the election, alleging that it was marred with irregularities. The petitioner had also challenged the election on the grounds that Kamale was not qualified to contest the April 11 election in Madagali/ Michika Federal Constituency.
He had alleged that Kamale emerged from “a kangaroo primary election’’ that was conducted in Abuja instead of the constituency where he belonged. Counsel to the petitioner, Mr Mohammed Maigari, told NAN that he would study the judgment and take instructions from his client. Also, Counsel to Kamale, Mr Leonard Nzadon, on his part, appreciated the judgment, saying that both judges and lawyers in the case had worked hard.