I’ll Appeal Judgement Nullifying My Election – Gombe Assembly Speaker

• Gombe State House of Assembly Speaker Abubakar Mohammed Luggerewo plans to appeal the decision nullifying his election
• The tribunal ruled in favor of Dr. Bashir Abdullahi Gaddafi of the PDP, citing irregularities and illegal result cancellations

Abubakar Mohammed Luggerewo, Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, stated that he will appeal the decision invalidating his election.

The speaker’s election, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Akko Central Constituency, was declared null and void by the State and National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Gombe yesterday.

Dr Bashir Abdullahi Gaddafi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) brought him before the tribunal over the illegal cancellation of results in four polling units.

Dr. Gaddafi told the court that irregularities and massive rigging by the ruling APC candidate marred the March 18 election for the Akko Central Constituency.

The presiding judge, Justice Micheal Ugar, faulted the cancellation of results in Kumo polling units 001, 024, and 014 at the collation centre after they were previously announced at the polling units in his ruling.

He stated that the petitioner had proven the illegal cancellation of his votes and that the court had returned the cancelled votes to the petitioner, resulting in Gaddafi’s victory over the speaker by more than 300 votes.

However, in response to the tribunal’s decision, the embattled speaker stated that he was not concerned and that the party would appeal the tribunal’s decision.

Again, national grid collapses five days after restoration

The National grid has collapsed again, just five days after it was restored following a similar incident that led to a total blackout across the country.

Data from the system operator showed that power generation dropped from 3,472 MW at 11 a.m. on Tuesday to 88.70 MW at noon.

The generation data indicated that only Afam VI (GAS/STEAM), Azura-Edo IPP (GAS), and Delta Gas contributed to the grid at the time.

However, as of 7 p.m., generation had increased to 1,914.60 MW with 12 generators on the grid.