The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Katsina has issued a verdict nullifying the electoral victories of two members of the House of Representatives, while declaring two other races inconclusive.
Presiding over the tribunal’s judgment, Hon. Justice O. Ogunfowora stated, “The return of the 1st respondent, Aminu Ahmadu Chindo of the PDP, as a member of Katsina Central Federal Constituency, Katsina State, in the House of Representatives is hereby nullified and set aside.”
In the same ruling, the judges affirmed that the first petitioner, Sani Aliyu, should be recognized as the member representing Katsina Central Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Additionally, they ordered the payment of a cost of N200,000.00 to the first and second respondents in favor of the petitioner.
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The tribunal’s decision stemmed from a petition filed by Sani Danlami against the declaration and return of Aminu Ahmadu Chindo, with the PDP and INEC as other respondents.
The petitioner alleged that Chindo had presented a forged primary school testimonial, a claim that the court determined the defendant failed to substantiate by proving attendance at the then Kofar Soro Primary School.
Explaining the judgement, the lead counsel to Hon. Sani Danlami, Earnest Obunadike, said the petition was predicated on the fact that by the provision of section 66(1)(i) of the 1999 constitution (As amended), presentation of false certificate to INEC is a disqualifying factor for any person vying for either a Reps member or as a Senator.
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Similarly, the court had nullified the return of the member representing Kankia/Kusada/Ingawa federal constituency, Ismail Dalha of the PDP on the grounds that he presented a forged Primary School Certificate.
Consequently, the tribunal directed INEC to issue a certificate of return to Hon. Abubakar Yahya of the APC, who had secured the second-highest number of votes (31,017) in the election.
Tribunal declares two House of Reps polls inconclusive
In a related development, the tribunal declared the Kankara/Faskari/Sabuwa federal constituency election result as inconclusive.
The contest saw the APC candidate, Hon. Dalhatu Shehu Tafoki, challenging the victory of Hon. Mohammed Jamilu of the PDP, who had been declared the winner by INEC.
The court ordered for fresh elections in some polling units and supplementary election in other polling units of the constituency.
One of the counsels to the petitioners, Barrister, Sagir Tahir, explained that while over voting was recorded in some polling units, voting did not take place in others, hence the court applied lead of margin principle and ordered for supplementary elections so as to ensure that no eligible voter was disenfranchised.
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Similarly, the tribunal had declared as inconclusive the Batsari/Safana/Danmusa federal constituency election result, where the APC candidate, Ahmed Zakka Abdulkadir challenged the victory of Hon. Iliyasu Abubakar of the PDP, who was returned by INEC.
Here again, the court ordered fresh elections in specific polling units and a rerun in other polling units within the constituency.