•Yar’Adua’s Son-in-Law Loses Seat
The Kebbi State Governorship Election Tribunal on Sunday nullified the election of Governor Saidu Dakingari.
He was elected on April 26 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
His election was challenged by Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) candidate Alhaji Abubakari Garimallam.
The tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh governorship election within 90 days.
The nullification of the election of Dakingari, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s son in-law, was greeted with wild jubilation in Birnin Kebbi.
Tribunal Chairman Justice Mairo Laraba Yusuf said INEC could not defend the results of the April 26 governorship poll.
She said the results “allocated” by INEC affected the outcome of the poll.
Justice Yusuf expressed regrets that INEC could “not produce the list of ballot papers allocated to all the 21 local governments.
She said the election was “not conducted in line with 2011 Electoral Act (as amended) and INEC manual.
Justice Yusuf added that the tribunal had no option than to invoke Section 140(1) of the Electoral Act 2011 to nullify Dakingari’s election.
The Section says: “Subject to subsection(2) of this section, if the Tribunal or the Court as the case may be, determines that a candidate who was returned as elected was not validly elected on any ground, the tribunal or the Court shall nullify the election.
She added: “The worst is that INEC cannot produce evidence on the number of ballot papers and boxes allocated to all presiding officers in the state.
“The fact that INEC could not defend the result of the governorship election proved that the result was not genuine. Therefore, the total result allocated by INEC affected the entire governorship election.
“We hereby declare the election null and void in accordance with the prayers of the petitioners.”
Justice Yusuf ordered INEC to conduct fresh governorship poll within 90 days in Kebbi State in “line with laid down procedure and the Electoral Act.”
But Governor Dakingari’s lawyer Mr. Sam Nene, said the judges were unfair to the governor and his deputy by cancelling the election.
He said Dakingari will appeal the judgment after consultations.
But the counsel to the Congress for Progressive Change Mr. Sam Kargbo, said: “I commend the courage of the Chairman and members of the tribunal. Their verdict confirmed that CPC won the governorship poll in Kebbi State but it was robbed of its victory.
He said the tribunal was right by saying the election was not properly conducted.
INEC’s counsel Mr. Amechi Nwosu said: “INEC will study the case and take proper action. The tribunal has the right to give such directive for a fresh election.
CPC candidate Garimallam on May 18 challenged the outcome of the governorship poll at the tribunal.
He averred that the election was marred by irregularities.
News Courtesy of The Nation newspaper.