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Tribunal affirms election of Agbu Kefas as Taraba Governor
30th September 2023

Agbu Kefas
Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas ,

By
Justin Tyopuusu
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The Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Jalingo on Saturday affirmed the election of Dr. Agbu Kefas as the governor of Taraba State.

The three-man panel of justices led by Justice G. A. Sunmonu
dismissed the petition filed by the New Nigerian Peoples Party and its candidate, Prof. Sani Yahaya for lacking in merit and consequently dismissed it.

The petitioners; The New Nigeria Peoples Party and its candidate in Prof. Sani Yahaya had instituted that petition against the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party and Kefas on the grounds of non-compliance to the provisions of the Electoral Act of 2022, citing over voting, mutilation of result sheets and alleged violence in some polling units.

The panel of justices held that the petitioners who claimed to have scored the majority of lawful votes cast were inconsistent in their reliefs sought as they asked that the same election be declared invalid, yet valid to declare their candidate winner.


“The petitioners failed to prove allegations of over-voting as the witnesses they called failed to demonstrate or prove the allegation of over-voting. The witnesses also failed to proof that they were polling unit agents of the petitioners as most of them relied on hearsay evidence.

“There were contradiction in the statement of witnesses called by the petitioner. The witnesses gave inconsistent responses in their affidavit and oral testimony during cross examination.

“Where there are conflicts in the evidences of witnesses, the tribunal cannot choose which one to use, but to reject all. The burden is on the petitioners to proof that the election was conducted in non compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.


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“The petitioner failed to proof their case to warrant the reliefs sought. The two issues formulated by the petitioners in their final written addressed are therefore resolved against them.

“The petition lacks merit, we accordingly reaffirm the election and return of Agbu Kefas as the duly elected Governor of Taraba State and parties are to bear their cost,” the tribunal ruled.

Counsels to the Governor Agbu Kefas and the Independent Electoral Commission both welcome the judgment saying there was no reason for appeal by the petitioner.

The Deputy Governor of the state Aminu Alkali, who was at the court, called the petitioners to bring on board their developmental plans for the state so as to work together towards the progress and development of the state.

Our correspondent reports that the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate won in 11 Local Government Areas, the NNPP won 3 while the APC won in 2 Local Government Areas.

Following the judgement, jubilant party faithful took to the streets of Jalingo, the state capital to celebrate the victory of the governor at the tribunal.
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This man imposed by rtd gen danjuma alongside senator bwacha rigged out prof Sani yahaya but the judgment was impeccable

garfield1:
This man imposed by rtd gen danjuma alongside senator bwacha rigged out prof Sani yahaya but the judgment was impeccable

I agree.

Col's was a work over from election day.

slivertongue:
Col's was a work over from election day.

Wasn't sir.not popular.he almost lost to prof sani.

garfield1:


Wasn't sir.not popular.he almost lost to prof sani.

Col ain't popular, his place was within his party. His emergence and victory is story not known to many.

slivertongue:


Col ain't popular, his place was within his party. His emergence and victory is story not known to many.

Prof Sani is the people's choice.

garfield1:


Prof Sani is the people's choice.

how?

slivertongue:


how?

The people voted for him till bwacha and kefas connived to rig him

garfield1:


The people voted for him till bwacha and kefas connived to rig him

conjecture.

slivertongue:


conjecture.

I don't understand you.after the woeful performance of Darius and the imposition of kefas,you think people will still vote pdp ? Was that not the same reason nentawe was purportedly rejected for Caleb! Why the doublespeak

garfield1:


I don't understand you.after the woeful performance of Darius and the imposition of kefas,you think people will still vote pdp ? Was that not the same reason nentawe was purportedly rejected for Caleb! Why the doublespeak

like I said the story of his emergence and victory ain't known to many. He wasnt Darius's candidate. Taraba politics is complex & ain't what you southern folks can fathom from the online space.

slivertongue:


like I said the story of his emergence and victory ain't known to many. He wasnt Darius's candidate. Taraba politics is complex & ain't what you southern folks can fathom from the online space.

Oga, we all know he was imposed by theo.it was the turn of the northern zone to rule.the people voted him that's why nnpp pulled such votes.pdp rigged just like in 2015

garfield1:


I don't understand you.after the woeful performance of Darius and the imposition of kefas,you think people will still vote pdp ? Was that not the same reason nentawe was purportedly rejected for Caleb! Why the doublespeak

Monsieur, politics in Taraba is mostly about religion.

In Taraba, the Muslims always band together behind one of their own. Once that happens, the Christians realign their own votes and give it to one of theirs, as they have a very clear majority in the state.

That has always been the norm. The prominent Christian candidates will always watch the polls to see how the Muslims swing. If they swing towards their own, as they always do, the Christian religious leaders would do the same, pick one Christian candidate and their followers would vote him enmasse.

So, nobody rigged out the Prof. He was outvoted.

garfield1:


Oga, we all know he was imposed by theo.it was the turn of the northern zone to rule.the people voted him that's why nnpp pulled such votes.pdp rigged just like in 2015

you are at liberty to stay in cross river and argue what you know little about. am surprised you are bringing up performance as yardstick for a win. can you apply same to those you support? or is it for the sake of argument?

Mordecai:


Monsieur, politics in Taraba is mostly about religion.

In Taraba, the Muslims always band together behind one of their own. Once that happens, the Christians realign their own votes and give it to one of theirs, as they have a very clear majority in the state.

That has always been the norm. The prominent Christian candidates will always watch the polls to see how the Muslims swing. If they swing towards their own, as they always do, the Christian religious leaders would do the same, pick one Christian candidate and their followers would vote him enmasse.

So, nobody rigged out the Prof. He was outvoted.

So, the christians always coalesce behind pdp candidates since 1999?

In 2023, both lp and apc had christian candidates, why didnt the christians queue behind either of them. You sound like the gen danjuma angle isnt a determining factor in whom becomes gov in Taraba.

Mordecai:


Monsieur, politics in Taraba is mostly about religion.

In Taraba, the Muslims always band together behind one of their own. Once that happens, the Christians realign their own votes and give it to one of theirs, as they have a very clear majority in the state.

That has always been the norm. The prominent Christian candidates will always watch the polls to see how the Muslims swing. If they swing towards their own, as they always do, the Christian religious leaders would do the same, pick one Christian candidate and their followers would vote him enmasse.

So, nobody rigged out the Prof. He was outvoted.

How was he outvoted when Xtians divided votes between kefas and bwacha

garfield1:


How was he outvoted when Xtians divided votes between kefas and bwacha

Taraba politics isn't as u simplify it.

So every state went to court, which means no one believes in INEC

garfield1:


How was he outvoted when Xtians divided votes between kefas and bwacha

Rereaad my comment to understand what I wrote. By election day, Bwacha's supporters simply queued behind Kefas.

Note that the Christians have a clear majority in Taraba. Their margin of lead is not negligible. They could lose a lot of votes and still beat whoever the Muslims queue behind.

Just know this - in Taraba, it's all about religion. And each group would not mind voting the most mediocre person among them if it means keeping the top position.

Their Christians distrust the Muslims a lot, and it's likely not unrelated to the happenings in neighboring Adamawa State where the Muslims dominate despite the Christians having a slight majority.

Svoboda:


So, the christians always coalesce behind pdp candidates since 1999?

In 2023, both lp and apc had christian candidates, why didnt the christians queue behind either of them. You sound like the gen danjuma angle isnt a determining factor in whom becomes gov in Taraba.

It is. The Muslims in Taraba are industrious, hardworking and have the funds they need to run a campaign. In contrast, the Christians are majorly civil servants and rural farmers. TY's funds and guidance helps make a lot of difference.

Mordecai:


Rereaad my comment to understand what I wrote. By election day, Bwacha's supporters simply queued behind Kefas.

Note that the Christians have a clear majority in Taraba. Their margin of lead is not negligible. They could lose a lot of votes and still beat whoever the Muslims queue behind.

Just know this - in Taraba, it's all about religion. And each group would not mind voting the most mediocre person among them if it means keeping the top position.

Their Christians distrust the Muslims a lot, and it's likely not unrelated to the happenings in neighboring Adamawa State where the Muslims dominate despite the Christians having a slight majority.

you are explaining too much to him. leave him to argue as usual.

Mordecai:


Rereaad my comment to understand what I wrote. By election day, Bwacha's supporters simply queued behind Kefas.

Note that the Christians have a clear majority in Taraba. Their margin of lead is not negligible. They could lose a lot of votes and still beat whoever the Muslims queue behind.

Just know this - in Taraba, it's all about religion. And each group would not mind voting the most mediocre person among them if it means keeping the top position.

Their Christians distrust the Muslims a lot, and it's likely not unrelated to the happenings in neighboring Adamawa State where the Muslims dominate despite the Christians having a slight majority.

No,the christians outnumber Muslims in taraba but the population isn't dominant like that of plateau,it is more of 57-43% like kaduna.out of the 16 lgas,Muslims dominate 6,christians 8 while two are 50 50.
You are also wrong about adamawa,there are more musims than christians.christiand dominate adamawa south while Muslims dominate central and north.it is only in nasarawa that I can agree that christians outnumber Muslims.
Kefas is not popular and strong like bwacha,there is no way bwacha supporters will go and vote kefas.instead aggrieved people in pdp will vote bwacha more.again the nnpp candidate is from apc originally so bwacha people will likely vote him than kefas.theres no way kefas could have won clean.

slivertongue:



you are at liberty to stay in cross river and argue what you know little about. am surprised you are bringing up performance as yardstick for a win. can you apply same to those you support? or is it for the sake of argument?

The manner of rubbish you vomit.so you believe kefas won but you don't believe that Uba Sani won in Kaduna, that dapo won in Ogun or that sule won in nasarawa.how hypocritical and low.the same reason you believe they lost is why kefas too lost

garfield1:


The manner of rubbish you vomit.so you believe kefas won but you don't believe that Uba Sani won in Kaduna, that dapo won in Ogun or that sule won in nasarawa.how hypocritical and low.the same reason you believe they lost is why kefas too lost

take your Sunday frustration far from me. You know very little about the political dynamics in the North. Stop using one fits all to analyze politics in various states. Your understanding party is centric so continue to argue. Again this thread is about Taraba, don't introduce other States into it.

garfield1:


I don't understand you.after the woeful performance of Darius and the imposition of kefas,you think people will still vote pdp ? Was that not the same reason nentawe was purportedly rejected for Caleb! Why the doublespeak

Hear in the NE, they play religious politics..

Christians are majority in Taraba.
With or without DDI performing, the majority Christians are not ready to let a Muslim govern them..

garfield1:


No,the christians outnumber Muslims in taraba but the population isn't dominant like that of plateau,it is more of 57-43% like kaduna.out of the 16 lgas,Muslims dominate 6,christians 8 while two are 50 50.
You are also wrong about adamawa,there are more musims than christians.christiand dominate adamawa south while Muslims dominate central and north.it is only in nasarawa that I can agree that christians outnumber Muslims.
Kefas is not popular and strong like bwacha,there is no way bwacha supporters will go and vote kefas.instead aggrieved people in pdp will vote bwacha more.again the nnpp candidate is from apc originally so bwacha people will likely vote him than kefas.theres no way kefas could have won clean.

Say what you know..

If Muslims are up to 40% 8n Taraba they have been ruling Taraba state perpetually just like they are doing in Christian dominated Nasarawa.

ImmaculateJOE:

Hear in the NE, they play religious politics..

Christians are majority in Taraba.
With or without DDI performing, the majority Christians are not ready to let a Muslim govern them..

I thought as much

slivertongue:



take your Sunday frustration far from me. You know very little about the political dynamics in the North. Stop using one fits all to analyze politics in various states. Your understanding party is centric so continue to argue. Again this thread is about Taraba, don't introduce other States into it.

Atiku lost the north against your expectations

Mordecai:


It is. The Muslims in Taraba are industrious, hardworking and have the funds they need to run a campaign. In contrast, the Christians are majorly civil servants and rural farmers. TY's funds and guidance helps make a lot of difference.

Apt.