Tribunal affirms PDP candidate Jarigbe winner of C’River North senatorial election

<p>A three-man election petition tribunal headed by Justice M. A. Sambo in a unanimous decision has affirmed the PDP candidate, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, as winner of the Cross River North senatorial election.</p>, <p>The tribunal, after a five-hour judgement, upheld Senator Jarigbe’s election today at its final sitting in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.</p>, <p>Prof Ben Ayade, former governor of the state had challenged Jarigbe’s victory at the tribunal in suit number EPT/CR/SEN/02/2023.</p>, <p>He had asked the tribunal to nullify the February 25, 2023 senatorial election for alleged malpractices and non-compliance with the electoral act.</p>, <p>The former governor also disputed the votes from about 377 polling units in the senatorial election.</p>, <p>The tribunal dismissed Ayade’s petition stating that he had inadequate evidence to invalidate the election.</p>, <p>The tribunal also struck out some evidence, particularly the presidential result sheet presented by the petitioners for being contrary to what they pleaded in their written statement on oath.</p>