The National/ State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano has averred that failure of Muhammad Said kiru of APC to call cogent witnesses to prove disenfranchisement during the conduct of Kiru/Bebeji House of Representatives fatal to his own petition against the victory of Abdulmumini Jibrin Kofa of NNPP.
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The Three Panel Judge presided over by Justice Ngozi Flora Azinge held that the documents adduced before the Tribunal by both parties, indicated that Abdulmumini Jibrin Kofa resigned his position as Executive Secretary of Federal Housing Authority, 1 year 30 days before the conduct of the Election conducted on 25th Feb. 2023 against the assertion of the Petitioner.
“The Petitioner has failed woefully to prove that there was Electoral malpractices and not being in compliance with the provision of Electoral Act, 2022 as amended.”
“This Petitioner is hereby dismissed for lack of merit.
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The sum of N100,000 cost is awarded, jointly and severally against the Petitioner in favour of the Respondents” The Tribunal ruled.
Muhammad Kiru, filed the petition praying the Tribunal to declare the victory of Abdulmumini Jibrin Kofa’s victory during the poll null and void alleging that the entire election marred by over voting, thuggery, violence, ballot stuffing, non accreditation of voters, disenfranchisement of voters among other electoral irregularities and malpractices.
The petitioner, further alleged that the respondent was not qualified to contest the election claiming that his name was not being in the membership register sent to INEC 30 days before primary election of the NNPP and that according to him contravened the provisions of Electoral Act, 2022 as amended.
Kiru further alleged that the Electoral umpire, INEC generated the results manual and electronically in 18 polling units which according to him affected outcomes of the result and rendered it invalid.
To prove his petition on merit, Muhd Kiru called 12 witnesses including himself, party agents and tendered some documents.
On his part, through his counsel, Abdulmumini Jibrin Kofa denied all the allegations by the petitioner.
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In his Written Testimony on Oath, the respondent, said he resigned his position from the former employer, Federal Housing Authority on 20th Dec. 2023 against the assertion of the Petitioner.
Kofa, through his counsel, said all the reliefs sought by the petitioner are declaratory in nature which not to be relied on his witnesses alone.
He added that the petitioner has failed to call voters to testify on the alleged disenfranchisement.
Delivering the judgement, the 3 judge panel led by Justice Flora Ngozi said all the witness didn’t meet with minimum requirements to prove over voting, thuggery, ballot stuffing and irregularities and not being in compliance with Electoral Act, 2023.
Speaking on NNPP membership of the respondent, the Tribunal dismissed the relief against the petitioner, upholding that is unfounded and goes to no issue in law.
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She consequently dismissed the petition and affirmed the credibility of the Kiru/Bebeji Federal House of Representatives Election conducted on 25th Feb, 2023.
