In the aftermath of the legislative tribunals’ verdicts on the outcomes of the 2023 elections in various states, political parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party (LP), are coming to terms with their respective fates.
The impact of these judgments has been felt differently by political parties, particularly the opposition. Some parties are still determined to challenge these rulings all the way to the nation’s highest court, undeterred by the setbacks.
One notable development that has dealt a significant blow to several parties, especially opposition parties, is the removal of three House of Representatives members who were elected under the Labour Party (LP). This decision was made by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Umuahia.
The Labour Party (LP) was not the only party affected. In Katsina, the National/State Assembly Election Petition Tribunals also invalidated the victories of two House of Representatives members, Aminu Chindo and Ismail Dalha, both of the PDP.
These verdicts have undoubtedly had a significant impact on the political landscape, prompting parties to reassess their strategies and legal options in response to the outcomes of the election petitions.
Niger
In Niger State, the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunals, convening at the Minna High Court complex, made several key decisions regarding election petitions:
1. The tribunal dismissed the petition filed by Mohammed Nazeer of the PDP challenging the election of Shehu Saleh of the APC. Justice Angela Otaluka, who presided over the case, deemed the petition lacking in substance and merit.
2. Another petition was filed by Saidu Isah of the PDP, contesting the election of Mahmud Abdullahi of the APC. However, this petition also faced a setback as it was dismissed by the tribunal led by Justice Angela Otaluka.
3. The election victories of Senators Abubakar Sani Bello of the APC and Peter Jiya Ndalikali of the PDP were upheld by the tribunal, confirming their status as elected representatives.
These rulings reflect the outcomes of the election petitions in Niger State and have implications for the political landscape in the region.
Kebbi
The National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunals in Kebbi State, led by Justice Margaret Oparah and her panel members, have delivered rulings on five out of the sixteen petitions before them. One of the dismissed petitions was filed by Senator Atiku Bagudu against Senator Muhammadu Aliero, due to lack of evidence.
Another dismissed petition was filed by Senator Bala Nbn Na Allah of the APC against the election of Garba Musa of PDP, and Musa’s victory as senator representing Kebbi South senatorial district was affirmed. In addition, the tribunal dismissed the petitions of Professor Umar Mukhtar of the APC, who challenged the election victory of Ibrahim Bello of the PDP, and Kabiru Bello Suru of the PDP, who contested the victory of Bello Kaoje of the APC.
Katsina
In Katsina, the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunals, headed by Justice Ogunfowora, have nullified the election victories of two House of Representatives members. Aminu Ahmadu Chindo of the PDP in Katsina Central Federal Constituency and Ismail Dalha representing Kankia/Kusada/Ingawa federal constituency are affected.
Additionally, the tribunal has deemed the election result of the Kankara/Faskari/Sabuwa and Batsari/Safana/Danmusa federal constituencies as inconclusive. As a result, fresh elections will be held in some polling units while supplementary elections will be conducted in others.
Plateau
The National Assembly Tribunal in Plateau State affirmed the elections of two federal lawmakers and also sacked four federal lawmakers from the PDP.
The beneficiaries of the judgments are from the LP and APC.
The tribunal, which nullified the election of Napoleon Bali, senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District, declared Simon Lalong as the duly elected senator.
It also sacked Peter Gyendeng of the PDP as a Member representing the Barkin-Ladi/Riyom federal constituency and declared Fom Chollom of the LP as the winner of the said election.
The tribunal further dismissed the petition of Gideon Dandareng of the APC for the Jos East/Jos South federal constituency against Alfred Ajang of the LP and declared that Ajang won the election.
Equally, it removed Beni Lar of the PDP as the Member representing Langtang North/Langtang South in the National Assembly. In her place, Bulus Venmark of the All Progressives Congress, APC has been declared the winner of the election.
Similarly, Musa Bagos of the PDP representing Jos East/Jos South federal constituency was removed to make way for Alfred Ajang of the LP, who has been declared the winner.
Oyo, Ekiti
In Ondo State, the Election Petition Tribunals dismissed the nine petitions filed before it.
Also, the tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the House of Representatives candidate of the PDP in Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, Tunji Balogun, who challenged the victory of the APC and its candidate, Donald Ojogo.
In another verdict, the tribunal struck out a petition filed by the LP and its House of Representatives candidate for the Akoko North-East and North-West Federal Constituency election, Badmus Ademuyiwa against Olubumi Tunji-Ojo
In Oyo, the National/State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal affirmed the victory of Senators Sharafadeen Alli of APC representing Oyo South, Fatai Buhari of APC representing Oyo North, and Yunus Akintunde of APC representing Oyo Central.
The tribunal also dismissed a petition filed by Ajibola Muraina of APC against Dr. Anthony Adepoju of PDP representing Ibarapa Central/North Constituency for lacking in merit and affirmed the victory of Olamide Adedeji Stanley of PDP for the Ibadan South West/North West federal constituency.
ln Ogun, the National/State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal ruled in favor of two APC senators and four APC reps.
In Ekiti, the petition filed by Senator Biodun Olujimi of the PDP against Senator Yemi Adaramodu of APC was dismissed by the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Abia
In Abia, a panel of the tribunal led by Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe sacked the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency, Mr Ibe Okwara Osonwa, for non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
In a petition filed by the candidate of the APC in the election, Chief Daniel Okeke, the tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Osunwa and issue a new one to Okeke.
Another panel led by Justice Hajaratu Lawa, nullified the election of Munachim Alozie, representing Obingwa/Osisioma Ngwa/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives.
The tribunal, which ordered INEC to conduct a rerun in some wards of Osisioma Ngwa council within the next 90 days, ruled that the declaration of the LP candidate, Alozie, was in error and could not stand.
Another panel of the tribunal also nullified the election of the member representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency, Mr Emeka Nnamani, for certificate forgery.
The tribunal, which declared the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Alex Ikwecheghi, as the winner of the election, ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Nnamani and issue a new one to Ikwecheghi.
Imo
In Imo, the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunals sacked two House of Representatives members of the PDP.
Members representing the Ideato North/South federal constituency and Okigwe South Federal constituency, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Jonas Okeke, respectively were sacked.
Kano
In Kano State, the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal has taken significant actions regarding the outcomes of certain elections:
1. The tribunal removed Idris Dankawu, the member representing Kumbotso Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, who contested under the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), due to allegations of certificate forgery. The three-member panel, led by Justice Chima, declared the APC candidate, Munnir Danagundi, as the rightful winner of the election.
2. The tribunal also ousted Yusuf Datti, the NNPP lawmaker representing the Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. In this case, the three-member panel, with Justice Flora Azinge delivering the judgment, nullified Datti’s election for not resigning from Bayero University, Kano (BUK), 30 days before the election. Consequently, Justice Azinge ordered INEC to revoke the certificate of return previously issued to Datti and declare the APC candidate, Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso, as the winner of the election, having secured the second-highest votes.
These decisions by the tribunal have ramifications for the representation in the House of Representatives from these constituencies in Kano State.
