Kogi State Election Petitions Dismissed a Petition Challenging The Election of Hon.(Prince) Collins A.H. Musa

*COURT THROWS OUT ELECTION PETITION AGAINST PRINCE COLLINS MUSA...FINES PETITIONER.*

The Kogi State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja, Tuesday, 8th September, 2019 has dismissed a Petition challenging the election of Hon.(Prince) Collins A.H. Musa, the duly elected Member, Kogi State House of Assembly representing Omala State constituency in the March 2019 Assembly elections.

Dazed by the outcome of the election, the petitioner, David Edibo Okala in suite number EPT/KG/SHA/18/2019, begged the court to disqualify the candidacy of Hon. Prince Collins Musa, pronounce the results of the Assembly election in Omala null and void and announce him winner, claiming that Collins Musa did not resign properly from the civil service before contesting the election and that up to February 2019 he was till receiving his salary. The petition also stated that there was gross misconduct and compromise on the part of the Nigerian electoral umpire (INEC)

After careful consideration, the Tribunal in a unanimous decision dismissed the petition on the basis that it lacked merit. Announcing the judgement, the lead Judge fined the petitioner for wasting the precious time and resources of the 1st and 2nd respondents ( Collins Attai Musa and INEC). He wondered why someone would go to court when there was no reason or without evidence.

Following this landmark judgement, Hon. (Prince) Collins Musa who has always maintained responsible silence on the matter commended the court for its due diligence in expediting the judgement and laying this matter to rest. The Assembly Member said:

" I thank Almighty God for this victory. I equally commend the judicial process that led to this judgement. It is obvious that the intention of the petitioner is to distract me and by implication hinder the much desired progress of Omala which I have come to fastrack. I therefore, here and now promise God and the people of Omala that I will not relent in doing everything humanly possible within the confines of the law and with my legislative powers to lift Omala to enviable heights." Insisting that there was no need to approach the court in the first instance, the Lawmaker further said: " This is a case of a kid crying over broken ballons in a birthday party he never attended. I am not holding a stolen mandate. Omala people, irrespective of party difference voted me.".

It will be recalled that Hon. (Prince) Collins Musa contested the March 2019 Assembly election which ended in a rerun, polling a total of 12,730 votes beating his closest opponent, Omajali Joel of the PDP with 2,961 votes. He received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission on 3rd of April, 2019 and was duly sworn in, 6th June, 2019 as Member of the 7th Assembly, after which the House went on recess and resumed plenary on August 1st. Undetterred by the election petition against him, Hon. (Prince) Collins Musa went ahead to open his constituency office at Abejukolo the Omala headquarters, donating pieces of furniture to the police in the area. In his first plenary session, he moved a motion pursuant to security of lives and properties in Omala requesting a Naval formation Base and a military police post at Bagana borderline. He has co- sponsored about two bills and also deplored every potential in following all his motions and bills to a logical conclusion.

Obviously, his vision for Omala as concieved before the unwarranted distraction remains intact. For Hon. (Prince) Collins Musa, Omala Agenda remains the modus operandi.

Samuel Achegbulu
SA Media to Hon. (Prince) Collins A.H. Musa
Reports from Abuja.