Taraba Elections Appeal Court says Aisha Alhassan is state’s real governor

The Court of Appeal has ruled that Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan is the duly elected governor of Taraba State and notDarius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The decision was reached by the Appeal Court today, December 21, 2015, in Abuja.

The judgment was made in support of a ruling of the state election petitions tribunal which nullified Ishaku’s victory in the April 11 and 25 polls in the state.

The tribunal had held, on Saturday, November 7, 2015, that the PDP did not conduct primaries hence Ishaku was not chosen by delegates of the party to represent it, an action which was in violation of‎ the provisions of the Electoral Act.

It found therefore that all votes in Ishaku’s favour had been wasted and Alhassan was the rightful winner of the polls.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, on April 13, declared the governorship election in Taraba inconclusive due to widespread irregularities.

Ishaku was however declared winner after a re-run was held on April 25.

Alhassan is currently the Minister for Women Affairs after being sworn in by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 11.