The candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Labour Party, LP, in the Ganye House of Assembly by-election, held in August, have asked the Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Yola to nullify the by-election for non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The candidates, Buba Mohammed Joda of the PDP and Benjamin Brandford of the LP, and their respective political parties prayed the tribunal to annul the by-election which Misa Musa of the All Progressives Congress was declared winner.
In his separate petition, Buba Joda prayed the tribunal to declare that the return of Misa Musa as member representing Ganye Constituency in the bye-election held on the 16th August, 2025, was invalidated by non-compliance with the provisions of sections 51(2) and (3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Joda urged the tribunal to order Misa Musa to return the certificate of return issued to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
He equally appealed to the tribunal to order a re-run election at five polling units where the exercise, according to him, was characterised by over voting.
In his own petition, Benjamin Brandford of the LP alleged that the election was invalid across the whole of Ganye for non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
Benjamin, through his Counsel, Samson Bukar, averred that the votes cast at some polling units exceeded the authentic number of accredited voters.
He sought an order setting aside the certificate of return issued to Hon. Misa Musa, as well as an order compelling the electoral body to conduct a fresh bye-election in the entire constituency and include his name in the list of candidates contesting the election.
