The Election Petition Tribunal convened in Ilorin, Kwara State, has made a ruling on Saturday, declaring the election of Miss Rukayat Shittu from the All Progressives Congress as inconclusive. The tribunal has consequently mandated a rerun in specific polling units.
Rukayat Shittu, a 26-year-old female legislator, currently represents the Owode-Onire constituency within Asa Local Government in the State House of Assembly. Her victory in the March 18 House of Assembly election had been previously announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
However, Abdullahi Yinusa Magaji, the candidate from the Peoples Democratic Party, challenged her victory by filing a petition with the tribunal. The tribunal’s lead judgment, delivered by Justice Ademola Enikuomehin, has directed a rerun in five polling units within the constituency.
“The petitioners failed in 12 among the contested polling units while five have been proved. The results so far released are hereby cancelled and the election inconclusive.
“In sum, the petition succeeded in parts and in consequence, I hereby order a rerun of the election in the above polling units to be conducted within 90 days,” the judge submitted.
Shittu after the victory in the March election made headlines as arguably the youngest lawmaker in the country.
