The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Wednesday nullified the judgment of the Kano National and State House of Assemblies tribunal that declared Mannir Danagudi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the Kumbotso Federal Constituency election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the New Nigeria Peoples Party ((NNPP) candidate, Idris Dankawu, as the winner of the February 2023 House of Representatives election for the constituency.
Not satisfied with the verdict, Danagudi, approached the election petition tribunal.
The election petition tribunal in its judgment sacked Dankawu on the grounds of certificate forgery.
The NNPP candidate, dissatisfied with the tribunal judgment, proceeded to the Court of Appeal.
On Wednesday, a three-member panel of the Appeal Court, led by Justice Tunji Oyebamuji, delivered a judgment, asserting that the lower court erred in law by prioritising the judgment on Kawu’s certificate, despite the appellant not submitting the same to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Also, the appellate court ruled that the lower court erred by relying on subpoenaed witnesses to give judgment.
Justice Oyebamuji asserted that Danagudi h failed to provide reliable and credible witnesses to justify the annulment of Dankawu’s victory in the Kumbotso Federal Constituency election.
