An election petition tribunal sitting in Makurdi, capital of the north-central state of Benue, Nigeria, earlier today annulled the elections of a sitting senator, George Akume. The senator is a member of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, and a prominent figure in Nigeria’s 109-member upper legislative chamber.
Akume was a two-time former governor of Benue before he was elected into the senate during the flawed April 2007 general elections in Nigeria. The controversial senator is under investigation by Nigeria’s central anti-corruption police, the EFCC, for corrupt enrichment and abuse of office. He is yet to be charged to court for corruption.
The judgment in Akume’s case comes on the heels of widespread cancellations of election results by election tribunals, the PDP has already lost five gubernatorial seats in election tribunal rulings since the tribunals started delivering judgments in election petition matters late last year.
Also under challenge are the elections of Umar Yar’adua and the senate president, David Mark.
No date has been fixed for judgment in petitions against Umar Yar’adua’s election.
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