April 8: The High Court has dismissed the election petition submitted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

A news release from the High Court says the petition fails to provide primary facie evidence on the charges as provided under sections 467 and 468 of the election bill.

On 4th April, the PDP filed an election petition to the High Court alleging that the elections were not free and fair and seeking an investigation into how urban dwellers including civil servants influenced voters, the auditing of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) and postal ballots for any mistakes and matters pertaining to defamation and use of religion and regionalism in the elections especially in the east and south.

The petition also contains allegations against 19 National Assembly members elect seeking their election be declared void.

The news release says the charges pertaining to voters being influenced by urban dwellers and civil servants and use of religion and regionalism by DPT are found to be speculative.

It says there is no evidence of electronic voting machine being tampered with and there is no prima facie evidence with regard to alleged offences committed by party workers of the candidates elect.