The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Kebbi has nullified the election of Gov. Sa'idu Dakingari as state governor and directed INEC to conduct a fresh election within 90 days.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Mairo Mohammed, who read the judgement in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday said INEC had failed to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the election took place in the state on April 26.

The tribunal ruled that neither Dakingari of the PDP nor the petitioner, Alhaji Abubakar Mallam of the CPC, can be declared the winner of the election, as there was gross violation of Section 140(i) and (ii) of the Electoral Act.

Mohammed said there had been substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act in all the polling units during the election.

The tribunal observed that INEC had failed to provide the required statutory forms for the election, using pieces of paper instead to record the results, contrary to the provisions of the Act.

``The tribunal hereby grants the prayers of the petitioner who called for a fresh election due to violation of the Electoral Act, as no candidate can be declared winner".

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CPC presented 65 witnesses while the respondents presented 15 witnesses.

Counsel to the CPC, Chief Edward Odugbesan who led eight other lawyers, expressed satisfaction with the judgement, describing it as ``correcting injustice with justice''.

Counsel to the PDP, Mr. Samson Edege, said the party would appeal against the judgement.

NAN recalls that INEC had after the April election declared Dakingari winner with 559,424 votes while it said the petitioner won 326,482 votes.

Election Tribunal nullifies Kebbi governorship election, orders fresh polls .