JUSTICE PREVAILS: Tribunal Sacks House of Reps Member Over Malpractices, Violence.

Newnaija News, Abuja – In a dramatic turn of events, the Sokoto Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal has annulled the election of Umar Yusuf Yabo, a member of the House of Representatives representing the Yabo/Shagari federal constituency.

The tribunal’s decision was based on allegations of malpractices and violence during the election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2023 and the rerun on February 3, 2024. In a unanimous decision, the three-judge panel, led by Justice Ashu A. Ewah, declared Yabo’s election null and inconclusive. The tribunal also ordered Yabo (Danmaje) to pay 500,000 naira in damages to the petitioner. The tribunal directed INEC to withdraw Yabo’s certificate of return and organize new elections in specific polling units in Yabo and Shagari LGAs. The rerun election has been scheduled to take place within 90 days in four affected polling units in the Yabo and Shagari local government areas.

The specific polling units include Dagawa Maji Kira, Dagawa Mai Zane, Shiyar Magaji, Kesoji Shiyar Hakimi, Jaredi Maji Kira, and Mazoji, located in both Shagari and Yabo LGAs. This development is a significant blow to Yabo, who has been representing the Yabo/Shagari federal constituency in the House of Representatives. The tribunal’s decision is a testament to the country’s commitment to ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. In another development, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed Usman Ododo as the duly elected governor of Kogi state. The appellate court dismissed the petition filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Murtala Ajaka, its governorship candidate, citing that the issue of alleged certificate forgery ought to have commenced at a federal high court as a pre-election matter. These developments highlight the importance of the judiciary in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria.

As the country continues to navigate the complex landscape of electoral disputes, the judiciary remains a crucial institution in upholding the rule of law and ensuring that the will of the people is respected. In related news, there have been reports of other tribunal decisions across the country, including the nullification of the election of Honourable Bright Ngene of the Labour Party in Enugu state and the sacking of a member of the House of Representatives, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Imo state. These developments underscore the importance of the judiciary in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria. As the country continues to navigate the complex landscape of electoral disputes, the judiciary remains a crucial institution in upholding the rule of law and ensuring that the will of the people is respected.

Newnaija News will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.