By Haruna Aliyu, Birnin Kebbi

In a four-hour ruling on Thursday, the three-man panel of judges of Kebbi State Election Petition Tribunal, led by Justice Ofemai Ofem, has dismissed the case filed by the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, challenging the victory of Governor Nasir Idris.

Delivering the judgment before lawyers and enthusiastic All Progressive Congress, APC, stalwarts, the judge earlier struck out the allegations of certificate forgery against the deputy governor, Senator Umar Tafida, he tendered original certificate of the school he attended as evidence of school completion.

On the case of election irregularities, the court held that about 17 witnesses from INEC have testified that the election was flawless devoid of irregularities as claimed by the opposition party.

Speaking shortly after the ruling, the lead counsel to the ruling APC, Usman Sulaiman (SAN) said that the evidences brought by the opposition are mainly hearsay, therefore not admissible.

He urged both parties to unite for the development of Kebbi, describing the ruling as victory for the judiciary and the good people of Kebbi state.

Opposition party lawyers could not be reached for their reaction as they stormed out of the court before the judgment was delivered.

Reacting to the ruling, the council chairman of Jega Local Government, Alhaji Murtala Jega hailed the ruling which he dedicated to God, good people of the council and the entire state.

On whether the court proceedings distracted the governor, he said Dr Nasir has been focused and very dedicated to his job despite the court cas.

“Now that it has been done with, the governor would naturally continue his good job to the people of the state,” he added.