The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Minna, Niger State has fixed tomorrow, Friday to deliver judgement on the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate, Barrister David Umaru and the party challenging the declaration of Dr Shem Zagbayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Niger East Senatorial by-election conducted in August and September last year.

The secretary of the tribunal, Azeez Ayoola in a notice through SMS to the parties involved in the petition said it will deliver judgement by 9am on Friday, January 30, 2015.

The notice reads, “Notice for Judgement: Take notice that judgement in the petition No. EPT/NG/SEN/1/2014, Barrister David Umaru and another Vs Dr. Nuhu Shem Zagbai and others will be delivered on Friday 30/1/2015 at state High Court no. 7 by 9 o’clock before noon. Please take this SMS as notice issued”.

Similarly the counsel to the petitioners, Barrister Ibrahim Mujaheed confirmed that the tribunal has fixed ruling for Friday

He said, “We hope to get the judgement. We have done our best in presenting our case to the tribunal”.

The APC senatorial candidate had petitioned the tribunal seeking to be declared as the winner of the bye-election having won majority of lawful votes

The petitioners David Umar and APC have prayed that the tribunal should declare the declaration of Dr. Zagbai of PDP as winner of the bye-election null and void claiming that the election was characterised by malpractices that affected several polling units and that the first petitioner should be declared winner after counting the lawful votes cast.

The petitioners prayed that the tribunal should cancel votes in the affected polling units where there were malpractices and declare David Umar as the candidate with highest valid votes in the bye-election.

Meanwhile Dr. Zagbayi through his counsel, Ayodele (SAN) argued that the tribunal should disregard the claims of the petitioners and that there were no substantial malpractices to affect the results of the bye-election.

The Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Ibrahim Bako had earlier adjourned after listening to the address of the parties involved in the petition last year promising to do justice in the case to all parties involved.

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