Appeal Court Sacks Nasarawa Assembly Speaker, Ibrahim Balarabe

THE Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday sacked the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Mr. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi and declared Mr Sa’ad Abdullahi Ibrahim (Turakin-Opanda) of the People Democratic Party (PDP), as the authentic winner of the March 18, 2013 speakership election in the state.

The petitioner had told the tribunal that there was overvoting and that the election was not in compliance with the Electoral Act.

But the three-member tribunal panel led by Justice Francisca Isong Nnang upheld the victory of the speaker, saying the petitioners failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the allegations of overvote as well as non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

Dissatisfied with the tribunal outcome, the PDP candidate headed for the Court of Appeal, which, on Tuesday, declared him winner of the election.

News Point Nigeria reports that there had been a fear battle between, the sacked speaker, Mr. Abdullahi, who is representing Umaisha Ugya constituency in the state assembly and, Mr Daniel Ogah Ogazi, representing Kokona East constituency respectively over speakership tussle.