By Abdallah el-Kurebe, Editor
#TrackNigeria: The National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal , sitting in Sokoto, on Thursday dismissed the petitions brought before it against a Member of the House of Representatives, representing Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency, Hon. Abubakar Umar Yabo, as well as the Member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly,, representing Bodinga South Constituency, Hon . Tukur Bala Bodinga.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Aminu Shehu Shagari had dragged Yabo to the tribunal, challenging his declaration as the winner of the House of Representatives Elections conducted on February, 23,2019, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He alleged among others, that Yabo was not duly elected and was not supposed to have been declared as the winner, as he did not score the majority of lawful votes cast.
Shagari also urged the tribunal to declare the results of the poll as invalid, because, according to him, the conduct of the election, had breached the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended.
Similarly, he alleged some electoral malpractices like ballot box snatching and stuffing, non use of card reader machines and voter intimidation, among others
Yabo said that , he was duly elected, as he has scored the majority of the lawful votes cast , and that, he was qualified to contest the election .
He also disclosed that , the election was conducted by INEC, in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended , and the Guidelines for the 2019 General Elections.
The member urged the Tribunal to dismiss the petition as it lacked any merit .
Delivering the Judgment, the Chairman of the Tribunal , Justice Peter Akhimie Akhihiero, stated that, the Petitioners have failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Peter Akhimie Akhihiero, therefore dismissed the petition, saying that , it lacks merit .
He further awarded N20,000 cost to each of the Respondents .
Reacting to the Judgment, Hon. Abubakar Umar Yabo, expressed gratitude to the Almighty Allah, saying , ” All Praises are due to God , who gives power to whosoever, at the time He wishes.
“The judgment shows that democracy is working and the grassroots are working . They have elected the person they want .
“The Tribunal has dismissed the petition and upheld my election, and I am elated for this .
“The people of the constituency have cast their votes and God has defended their choice . In sha Allahu, even if the Petitioners appealed the Judgment, they will woefully fail .”
Yabo urged the 1st Petitioner to concede defeat and fully prepare for another chance in 2023 and not to waste his money on an appeal.
In a related development, the tribunal has dismissed the petition brought before it by the defeated Candidate of the PDP , Hon. Aminu Bala Bodinga , against the member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, representing Bodinga South Constituency, Hon . Tukur Bala Bodinga .
Aminu Bala has dragged Tukur Bala to the Tribunal, challenging his declaration as the winner of the March 9, 2019, State Assembly Election, by INEC.
He alleged that ,Tukur was not qualified to contest the election, as he has not attained the mandatory age of 30 years , when the poll was conducted.
Aminu also alleged among other issues , that, Tukur was wrongly declared as the winner, as he has not scored the majority of the lawful votes cast .
Tukur insisted that, he was duly elected as the election was conducted by INEC in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended .
A member of the Tribunal , Justice Safrat Bello, dismissed the petition as it lacked merit .
She averred that , the Petitioners have failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt .
Justice Bello also awarded N 20,000 cost in favour of all the Respondents.
Reacting to the Judgment, Hon. Tukur Bala Bodinga exoressed gratitide to the Almighty Allah and lauded his constituents for reposing tremendous confidence in him.
He also commended the leader of the APC in the state, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, for his sustained invaluable support to him, all through .
Meanwhile , the Tribunal has dismissed the petition brought before it by the APC Candidate in the State Assembly Election, for Tangaza Constituency , Alhaji Aliyu Lumu , against the winner, PDP Candidate, Hon. Musa Miko.
In the Judgmment , a member of the Tribunal, Justice Alfred Yakub, said that, the petition lacks merit .
He awarded N20,000, in favour of each of Respondents.
