Kogi East: Appeal Court upholds senator Isah Echocho’s victory

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the victory of  senator Jibrin Isah Echocho as Senator representing Kogi East.

The appellate court in the judgment delivered on Thursday, declared that the witness upon which the tribunal based its decision was not qualified, hence, the exhibits tendered by the witness were removed from the records.
Subsequently, the Court of Appeal overturned the tribunal’s verdict as it went ahead to confirm Isah’s victory in the February 25th, National Assembly polls.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had initially declared Jibrin Isah of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the Kogi East Senatorial District election.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Victor Adoji, who came second contested the victory. Adoji argued that the elections were annulled in certain polling units where the number of collected permanent voter cards (PVCs) exceeded the margin of victory.
He had urged the tribunal to invalidate Isah’s victory and order a supplementary election in the 94 affected polling units within the senatorial district.
The tribunal unanimously ruled for a rerun in the alleged 94 polling units with election irregularities.
Dissatisfied with the Tribunal’s judgment, Isah proceeded to the appeal Court against the lower court’s decision.
In response to the court’s decision, Senator Jibrin Isah expressed that his victory at the Appeal Court reaffirms the mandate given to him by his constituents.
He commended the people of his constituency and assured the people of Kogi East adding that he would provide more robust and impactful representation at the National Assembly, by fulfilling his campaign promises.

Senator Echocho is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs.