From Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
The National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal for Sokoto/Zamfara states sitting in Sokoto on Monday sacked a member of the National Assembly representing the Yabo/Shagari federal constituency, Umar Yusuf Yabo Danmaje.
The Tribunal further ordered the Danmaje to pay 500,000 naira as damages to the petitioner as a cost award.
In a unanimous judgement of three panels of judges and read by the tribunal chairman, Justice Ashu A.Ewah, declared the elections of Danmaje as a member representing the Yabo/Shagari federal Constitution at the House of Representatives as null and void.
Other members of the tribunal include Justice Helen N. HammanJoda and Justice Ali T.Changbo respectively.
Justice Ewah said the election which was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in 2023 and rerun election on 3rd Feb 2024 was marred with malpractices as such declared inclusive.
The tribunal also ordered INEC to organise and conduct another rerun election within iwithin90 days from today.
The election is to be conducted in four affected polling units of the two affected federal constituencies of Yabo and Shagari local government areas of the state.
The four polling units where INEC was asked by the Tribunal to conduct an election are four polling units, three polling units in Shagari and one in Yabo local government area respectively.
The polling units include Dagawa Maji Kira, Dagawa Mai zane, Shiyar Magaji, Kesoji Shiyar Hakimi, Jaredi Maji Kira and Mazoji both in Shagari and Yabo Local Government Areas of the state.
The Tribunal however ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Danmaje and conduct the election in the affected polling units within 90 days.