In a recent legal decision, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, the former majority leader of the House of Representatives, emerged victorious in his case against Salisu Yushau Abdullahi, the New Nigeria People’s Party candidate. The court ruled that Alhassan Ado Doguwa, the Member Representing Doguwa/Tudunwada Federal Constituency, was legitimately elected.
During the judgment delivered on Monday regarding a petition filed by the NNPP House of Representatives candidate challenging Doguwa’s reelection, Justice L.B. Owolabi, the presiding judge, emphasized that the petitioner had failed to substantiate their claims beyond a reasonable doubt.
Justice Owolabi declared, “The petitioner has failed to present a compelling case that could justify overturning the election of Alhassan Ado Doguwa. Consequently, he is declared the rightful winner by a majority of votes.”
The judge dismissed the petitioner’s claims, asserting that the three primary grounds for the challenge – alleged corrupt practices by Alhassan Doguwa, non-compliance with electoral laws, and insufficient valid votes – lacked merit and did not warrant the annulment of the election.
In relation to allegations of election violence, all 21 witnesses presented by the petitioner testified that there was no evidence of violence during the elections, contradicting the petitioner’s claims.
The unanimous decision of the court concurred that the combined testimony of all 32 witnesses called by the petitioner failed to provide substantial evidence capable of overturning the election results.
Justice Owolabi, during the judgment, expressed skepticism about how all the petitioner’s witnesses could have arrived at different polling units simultaneously and observed alleged over-voting at each location, yet could not identify their respective results sheets. Consequently, their testimony was deemed insufficient and unreliable.
