Tribunal Upholds Katung’s Election as Senator Representing Kaduna South

John Shiklam in Kaduna

The National and State House Assemblies  Election Petitions Tribunal in Kaduna has dismissed the petition filed by Michael Auta of the Labour Party (LP) challenging the election of Sunday Marshall Katung of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the senator representing Kaduna South senatorial district.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Katung the winner of the senatorial election held on February 25, 2023, having scored 138,246 against 101,479 votes garnered by Auta.

Auta and the LP had approached the tribunal, alleging that Katung did not win the election by a majority of lawful votes cast and that the election was invalid for the reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

However, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice O.O. Oluboyede, the tribunal held that the quality of witnesses called by the petitioners was not enough to strengthen the petition or sustain it.

The Judge said the pieces of evidence adduced by the petitioners was weak and porous, adding that the petitioners failed to provide substantial evidence to prove the case of noncompliance of the Electoral Act and violence during the election.

The tribunal dismissed the petition and affirmed Kadung as the duly elected senator representing Kaduna South senatorial district.