The National/State House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Kano made a significant ruling on Tuesday, as it dismissed the petition lodged by Umar Abdullahi Ganduje of the APC. This petition contested the victory of Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe from the NNPP in the Rimin Gado/Dawakin Tofa/Tofa Federal House of Representatives Election held on March 25, 2023.
Abba Umar Ganduje, son of the former Kano State Governor and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), initiated the petition, challenging the emergence of Abdulkadir-Jobe from the NNPP as the representative for the Rimin Gado, Dawakin Tofa, and Tofa Constituency election conducted on February 25, 2023.
During the hearing, Mr. Abdulgafar Murtala, the Petitioner’s Counsel, called on the court to declare Umar as the winner and nullify the INEC declaration that initially declared Jobe as the victor. Murtala alleged that the Rimin Gado, Dawakin Tofa, and Tofa Constituency election had been tainted with irregularities, over-voting, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
However, Counsel to the NNPP, Ibrahim Wangida, and Counsel to Jobe, Mr. Auwal Sani, countered these claims during the hearing. They urged the court to dismiss the petition, asserting that the election had been conducted in accordance with the 2022 electoral act.
In delivering their judgment, the three-member Panel of Judges ruled that the petition lacked merit and that the petitioner had failed to provide sufficient evidence to support the allegations made. Consequently, the tribunal ordered the petitioner to pay a sum of N200,000 to the respondents, jointly and severally.For more updates visit thedailycourierng.