Tribunal dismissess petition against Kwankwaso’s election

The National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by Sen. Bashir Lado challenging the victory of former Kano State Governor, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso in the 2015 general election. Kwankwaso defeated Lado in the March 28 senatorial election for Kano Central Senatorial District.

In his ruling, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Corneleaus Akintayo dismissed the case for lack of merit, adding that the petitioner had failed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt. The tribunal chairman noted that Lado had not established a prima facie evidence against the respondent.

He said the request by the petitioner for the tribunal to nullify the election based on the substitution of the name of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf with that of the respondent was untenable. According to him, the tribunal has no evidence to declare the election null and void, and therefore, considers the result of the election as credible.

Akintayo said the petitioner had failed to provide genuine evidence to prove that the results of the election did not reflect the conduct of the polls.

The tribunal’s verdict was greeted with jubilation by supporters of the former governor who had thronged the venue to witness the long awaited judgement.