A candidate for the Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam Federal House of Representatives and member of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Yusuf Umar Datti, has had his election victory declared invalid by the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Kano State.
According to Justice Ngozi Azinge, who ruled over the case and handed down the ruling, Datti failed to retire from Bayero University, Kano, within 30 days of the election.
Justice Azinge emphasised the importance of electoral guidelines, stating, “electoral rules and regulations are crucial in maintaining the integrity of our democratic process. Failure to adhere to these rules can have serious consequences”.
As a result of the decision, Justice Azinge ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to revoke the certificate of return that had earlier been given to Datti and certified Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be the rightful election winner. In the election that was held on February 25, 2023, Kwankwaso received the second-highest number of votes.
In response to the tribunal’s decision, Kwankwaso expressed gratitude and commitment to serving the people, saying, “I appreciate the judiciary for upholding the rule of law and ensuring that the will of the people prevails. I am ready to fulfill my responsibilities as the elected representative for the Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam constituency.”
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