Niger senator seeks supplementary poll

The Senator representing Niger South, Mohammed Bima Enagi, has asked the election petition tribunal in Niger State to declare the February 25, parliamentary poll inconclusive and order a supplementary election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared PDP’s Peter Jiya Ndalikali winner of the senatorial election.

The counsel to Senator Enagi, Kolawole Olowookere, told the tribunal yesterday at the preliminary hearing that Ndalikali of the PDP did not win the majority of votes.

He said the total number of votes cancelled due to BVAS malfunction, violence and destruction were more than the margin of votes between APC’s Enagi and PDP’s Ndalikali.

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Counsels to the first, second and third respondents, Jonathan Taidi, Jibrin M. Abdallah and Chinaka S. Iliya, respectively, asked the tribunal to dismiss the application of the first petitioner for failure to comply with the tribunal’s procedures.

But counsel to Senator Enagi argued that the application of the defence counsels was only relevant where the petitioner had sought a nullification of the election considering the provisions of Sections 1, 2 and 3, Subsection 1 (B) of the Electoral Act.

The tribunal’s Chairman, Justice A. O. Opesanwo, after listening to applications, adopted all responses and answers and granted the petitioner’s motion to inspect the electoral materials.