The National/ State House of Assembly sitting in Kano has dismissed the petition by Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, of APC challenging the victory of Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe of NNPP for Rimin Gado/Dawakin Tofa/ Tofa/ Federal House of Representatives Election conducted on 25th March. 2023.
The Three Panel Judge, presided over by Justice I.P Chima dismissed the petition for lacking in merit.
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The Tribunal averred that the petitioner has failed to present sufficient evidence to support the allegations of over voting, cancellations, non accreditation of voters and other electoral irregularities, alleged to had been conducted during the conduct of the election.
The sum of N200,000 cost awarded to the Respondents, jointly and severally for filing frivolous case
Umar Abdullahi Umar, the son of the immediate past Governor of Kano State, filed the petition before the Tribunal on 17th March. 2023 challenging Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for declaring Tijjani Jobe as winner of the election, alleging that the election was marred by irregularities, electoral malpractices and non in compliance with the provision of the first scheduled of the Electoral Act.
The petitioner prayed the Tribunal to declare rerun in polling units where the cancelations and over voting were alleged to had been occurred.
He further alleged that voters accreditation didn’t conducted in some polling units.
He also alleged that the Respondent didn’t win the election with simple majority of the total votes casts.
Umar presented 18 witnesses to prove his case.
But on his part, Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe didn’t present any witness stating that petitioner didn’t discharge the burden of proof against him, to warrant him call any witness, maintaining that he who asserts must to prove.
He denied all the allegations raised by the petitioner and urged the Tribunal to so hold and dismiss the petition and all the reliefs sought.
The Tribunal consquently, averred that the Petitioner, Umar Abdullahi Ganduje of APC didn’t discharge the burden of proof against Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe of NNPP and accordingly dismissed the petition.
