The National/State House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Kano has rejected Umar Abdullahi Ganduje’s APC petition contesting the victory of Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe from NNPP in the Federal House of Representatives Election for Rimin Gado/Dawakin Tofa/Tofa on March 25, 2023.
Abba Umar Ganduje, the son of the former Kano State Governor and an APC member, had challenged the election outcome, where Abdulkadir-Jobe of NNPP was declared the winner for Rimin Gado, Dawakin Tofa, and Tofa Constituency on February 25, 2023.
During the proceedings, the Petitioner’s Counsel, Mr. Abdulgafar Murtala, requested the court to declare Umar as the victor and overturn INEC’s previous announcement of Jobe as the winner. He cited irregularities, over-voting, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act in the Rimin Gado, Dawakin Tofa, and Tofa Constituency elections.
However, Counsel to NNPP, Ibrahim Wangida and Counsel to Jobe, Mr Auwal Sani, during the hearing urged the court to dismiss the petition, adding that the election was conducted, in accordance with the 2022 electoral act
Delivering judgment, the three-man Panel of Judges dismissed the petition for lack of merit. The panel also averred that the petitioner failed to present sufficient evidence to support the allegation raised.
To this extent, the tribunal awarded the sum of N200,000 to the respondents, jointly and severally.
