On Monday, the Kano National/State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal dismissed the petition filed by Abdusalam Abdulkarim-Zaura of the APC challenging the election of Rufa’i Sani-Hanga as the senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District.
The petitioner, Abdulkarim-Zaura (APC), filed a petition challenging the victory of Mr Sani-Hanga of the NNPP in the February 25 election.
The respondents are INEC, NNPP, Mr Sani-Hanga, and Ibrahim Shekarau.
Delivering the judgment, the three-member panel led by Justice I. P. Chima held that the petitioner failed to prove his case in compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act.
“The election of Sani-Hanga is hereby affirmed, and the petition is hereby dismissed,” the judge ruled.
The judge also ordered the petitioner to pay the NNPP N300,000 and Mr Sani-Hanga N300,000 as a cost for wasting the court’s precious time.
Earlier, counsel to the petitioner, Adekunle Falola, urged the court to declare Mr Abdulkarim-Zaura, the winner and set aside the INEC declaration that announced Mr Sani-Hanga as the winner.
He alleged that the Kano Central senatorial poll was marred by irregularities, malpractices, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
Counsel to INEC, Abbas Haladu, and counsel to NNPP and Mr Sani-Hanga, Meshak Ikpe, urged the court to dismiss the petition, adding that the election was validly conducted in accordance with the electoral act.
(NAN)
