Supreme Court Orders Retrial Of Petition Against Gombe Governor

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The Supreme Court has ordered the Gombe State governorship election petition tribunal to re-try the petition against the Governor Ibrahim Dakwambo of the People Democratic Party (PDP).

In a judgement delivered by a full panel of the apex court, the court unanimously dismissed the appeal ‎on ground that the tribunal had only emphasised on technicalities in arriving at its decision.

Reading the judgement, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun held that the tribunal was wrong to have dismissed the petition on ground of technicalities.

The tribunal sitting in Gombe had earlier dismissed the petition filed by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) challenging the victory of Governor Dankwambo in the April 11 governorship elections.

The petition was nullified and dismissed by the tribunal on the ground of competency of the petitioner’s counsel, Sam Kagbo, as a legal practitioner.

The petitioner’s counsel had signed the petition as Sam Kagbo whereas on the roll of lawyers, the name is Sam Peter Kagbo.

Not satisfied with the ruling, ADC approached the Court of Appeal challenging the decision and the Court of Appeal in its judgement ordered the tribunal to retry the petition.

Governor Dakwambo later approached the apex court seeking to set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal.