National Telescope national telescope newspaper
The Borno State National Assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Maiduguri on Friday upheld the election of the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC – Borno South).
The followed the tribunal’s dismissal of petition challenging Ndume’s victory filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Haske Kudla.
In its ruling, the tribunal averred that the petitioner failed to present cogent, reliable and compelling evidence that could be sufficient to affect the poll’s result as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In his reaction, Senator Ndume said the victory will further strengthen his resolve towards serving his Constituency with renewed vigour.
He said: “My dear people of southern Borno senatorial district, and all our well-wishers across the country, it is with great gratitude to the Almighty God that I address you on this auspicious day in which God has caused us to enjoy another victory, given that a short while ago, the Elections Tribunal affirmed my electoral victory over PDP’s candidate by outrightly dismissing the petition he filed against my triumph.
“This noble ruling has further reaffirmed the mandate which you gave me in the last election.
“As you may have noted, this petition that has just been dismissed has never ever deterred me from performing my functions as your senator and which goes to say that the court case has never been a distraction to me and I couldn’t have used it as an excuse to deny our people the benefits of their trust in me.
“I consider the petition by my defeated opponent as an exercise of his democratic rights, which cannot be denied.
“As we celebrate this ruling, I wish to call on all my supporters to celebrate this victory with modesty and with utmost respect for the losing camp without any form of ill will. Let us all be practitioners of the decency and decorum we are known for.
This victory is not for Ndume, this victory is for all Borno south constituents.”
(The Nation)
