The FCT Area Council Election Appeal Tribunal, Friday, upheld the elections of Hon. John Gabaya and Hon Abdullahi Suleiman Sabo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Chairmen of Bwari and Kuje Area Councils, respectively.
The declaration in favour of Gabaya and Sabo are contained in suits FCT/ACEAT/AP/26/2022 and FCT/ACEAT/AP/30/2022, respectively.
In a unanimous judgement, the three-man tribunal, including Hon. Justice S. B Belgore (Chairman), Hon. Justice Yusuf Halilu (member 1), Hon. Justice Jude O. Onwuegbuzie (member 2) dismissed the judgment of the FCT Area Council Election Tribunal, which had declared Shekwolo Haruna Audi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the Bwari area council election held on February 12.
It also dismissed the judgement of the tribunal, which had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct supplementary elections in nine polling units across six wards of Kuje Area Council, as requested by Hamidu Sarki candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
The justices said that the judgement of the lower tribunal should be set aside and ignored for lacking in merit as the respondents failed to prove their cases of electoral fraud.
While fielding questions from newsmen after the judgment, the two chairmen expressed hope in the judiciary, saying with the judgment, it was time for them to focus on delivering dividends of democracy to their area councils.
