Kogi election: ACN, PDP know fate today

Today is decision day for the People Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Kogi State as the  Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal is set to rule  in Lokoja, in the eletoral dispute between the two rival parties.

The ACN petitioned the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the result of December 3, Kogi governorship election, declared in favour of the PDP did not reflect the actual position of the electorate.

INEC had declared Captain Idris Wada of the PDP winner of the election with  300,000 votes. Prince Abubakar Audu of the ACN trailed him with 150,000 votes. 

A former member of the House of Representatives,  Dino Melaiye, in a swift reaction described the election as a charade. 

Melaiye, who simply said the election was a scientific rigging, accused both the INEC and the PDP of forging results.  

The prayer of the ACN before the tribunal was to give the mandate to, who it said polled the highest number of valid votes.  

But the PDP averred that the election was free and fair, urging the court to squash the prayer of its challenger, which it argued, lacks substance. 

After argument by the various counsels and collation of  oral and documentary evidence provided by the petitioners, the tribunal led by Justice Sulaiman Ambursa fixed today to deliver its judgment at the State High Court Complex. 

The police have promised to provide adequate security around the vicinity of the court. A top security operative confirmed that only judicial officers and reporters will be allow access into the court premises.