The Kano National/State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, on Monday, dismissed the petition filed by Abdussalam Abdulkarim-Zaura of the APC challenging the election of Rufa’i Sani-Hanga as senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District.
The petitioner Abdulkarim-Zaura(APC) filed a petition challenging the victory of Sani-Hanga, of the NNPP, for Kano Central Senatorial District election conducted on Feb.25.
The respondents are: INEC, NNPP, Rufa’i 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 it case in compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act.
“The election of Sani-Hanga is here by affirm and the petition is here by dismissed”
The Judge also ordered the petitioner to pay the NNPP N300,000 and Sani-Hanga N300,000 as cost for wasting the precious time of the court.
Earlier, Counsel to the Petitioner, Adekunle Falola, urged the court to declare Abdulkarim-Zaura as the winner and set aside INEC declaration that announced Rufa’i Sani-Hanga as the winner of Feb.25, election.
He alleged that the Kano Central senatorial poll was marred by irregularities, malpractices, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
Counsel to INEC, Mr Abbas Haladu and Counsel to NNPP and Sani-Hanga, Mr Meshak Ikpe, urged the court to dismiss the petition, adding that the election was validly conducted in accordance with the electoral act.
