LEADERSHIP

October 17, 2007

...Tribunal Nullifies PDP Election, Orders INEC To Prosecute

 
          Ahmed Tukur
 
 
The Nasarawa State election petition tribunal sitting in Lafia has ordered Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take appropriate steps to prosecute a member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly for presenting forged certificate during 2007 general election.

The tribunal, which was presided by Justice Rita Pemu, invoked section 157 of the Electoral Act 2006 and recommended INEC to take steps in prosecuting Hon. Patrick Ebiniyi, who represents Udege/Loko constituency for the offence of forgery.

The tribunal also nullified the election of the honourable member and ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election in Udege/Loko west constituency, saying Ebiniyi, who was declared winner was not qualified to contest the 2007 election, having presented a forged certificate to INEC.

In a 20-page judgement also awarded N50, 000 costs against Ebiniyi and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who are the fifth respondent in the case and the party to which Ebiniyi belongs.

Ebiniyi’s election was challenged by both the Action Congress (AC) and All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) for presenting forged secondary school certificate to INEC during the last general elections that returned him winner, which was consolidated by the tribunal.

Ebiniyi, who is the house committee chairman on information has since last two months resigned his membership of the state assembly and ran away to an unknown destination.