By Adadareporters
The victory of two House of Representatives members in Katsina State has been declared null and void by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Katsina over forgery.
The tribunal, led by Justice O. Ogunfowora, ruled that “the return of the first respondent, Aminu Ahmadu Chindo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as member, Katsina Central Federal Constituency, is hereby nullified and set aside.”
The judges also held that the first petitioner, Sani Aliyu, was re-elected as a member of the Katsina Central Federal Constituency of the House of Representatives, and a cost of N200,000.00 was awarded to the petitioner against the first and second defendants.
Sani Danlami had filed the petition against the declaration and return of Aminu Ahmadu Chindo, with PDP and INEC as other respondents. He had accused the first respondent of presenting a forged primary school testimonial, which the court said the defendant had failed to prove that he had actually attended the then Kofar Soro Primary School.
Mr Ernest Obunadike, the lead counsel for Sani Danlami, said the decision was premised on section 66(1)(i) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which stipulates that presentation of a false certificate to INEC is a disqualifying factor for any person vying for either a Reps member or a Senator.
The court further nullified the return of the member representing Kankia/Kusada/Ingawa federal constituency, Ismail Dalha, of the PDP for forgery of his primary school certificate.
The tribunal directed INEC to issue a certificate of return to Hon Abubakar Yahya of the APC. Yahya came second in the election with 31,017 votes.
The tribunal earlier declared the Kankara/Faskari/Sabuwa federal constituency election result inconclusive. The APC candidate, Hon Dalhatu Shehu Tafoki, had challenged the victory of Hon Mohammed Jamilu of the PDP, who was returned by INEC.
The court ordered for fresh elections in some polling units and supplementary election in other polling units of the constituency.
Mr Sagir Tahir, counsel to the petitioners, explained that while over voting was recorded in some polling units, voting did not take place in others, hence the court applied lead of margin principle and ordered for supplementary elections to ensure that no eligible voter was disenfranchised.
