Rep. Mukthar Umar-Zakari (NNPP-Kano) has vowed to challenge the judgement of the Election Petition Tribunal which nullified his election over alleged certificate forgery.
Umar-Zakari, who represented Tarauni Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
The tribunal had nullified his election and declared Hafizu Kawu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Feb. 26 poll.
The three-man panel of the tribunal, led by Justice I.P. Chima, ruled that he was not qualified to contest for the election having forged his primary school certificate.
“For the avoidance of doubt and putting records straight, I was born Muktar Umar, was enroled in Hausawa Primary School, and graduated as Muktar Umar.
“So as it is in all my academic qualifications from primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, which are available for verification.
“However, in my desire to link my two names to the family, I added Zakari to my name and turned Mukthar Umar-Zakari after meeting all the legal and constitutional procedures regarding the change of names.
“These are :swearing an affidavit; newspaper publication; gazetted the name as required and obtained; deed poll,” he said.
Umar-Zakari said that the change of name was done long before the 2023 general election.
“Having obtained all the documents as contained above, I have without any fear to exercise my right to include Zakari in the name I have sent to Independent National Electoral Commission and fill Form CF001 for contesting the House of Representatives elections.
