On Tuesday, the Election Petitions Tribunal in Gombe State overturned the victory of the current Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Abubakar Mohammed Luggerewo.
In the House, Luggerewo represents Akko central.
Bashir Abdullahi of the Peoples Democratic Party had taken All Progressives Congress candidate Luggerewo and the Independent National Electoral Commission to court over the cancellation of results in polling units 001, 024 and 014 in Kumo East, which purportedly gave the APC an advantage.
Luggerewo was recently appointed as the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria’s Zonal Vice Chairman, North-East, and Chairman of the North-East Speakers Forum.
In his judgement, Justice Michael Ugar stated that the elimination of polling units 001, 024, and 014 of Kumo units by the Independent National Electoral Commission was an error.
The tribunal stated in its decision that “a rerun within the next 30 days of the judgment in Kumo East 018 to determine the actual winner between Luggerewo of the All Progressive Congress and Bashir Abdullahi of the Peoples Democratic Party” will be held.
In a phone chat with our correspondent, Luggerewo told us that the party would appeal the decision.
When questioned if he abided by the tribunal’s decision, he stated, “I was not at the court but I was briefed.”
“The next line of action is that we are going to appeal,” Luggerewo said of the next step.
(Punch)