Tribunal nullifies Soba federal constituency election, orders INEC to conduct fresh poll

The National and State Assemblies Election Petitions Tribunal on Wednesday, nullified the election of  Abubakar  Musa of the CPC, representing Soba federal constituency of Kaduna State, in the  House of Representatives.

Consequently, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Daniel Kalio directed INEC to organise a fresh election within 60 days, beginning from the date of the judgment.

Alhaji Ibrahim Khalid of the PDP had challenged the return of Abubakar Musa of the CPC by the INEC as the winner of the April Elections on the grounds that the elections were flawed.

Khalid had particularly challenged the conduct of the polls on the grounds that they contravened the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010.

He claimed that the results were manipulated in favour of the first respondent and prayed the tribunal to nullify them.

In its unanimous judgment, the tribunal nullified the election on the grounds that the INEC's  announcement shifting the elections created confusion and led to the disenfranchisement of sizeable number of  registered voters.

Kalio upheld the arguments of the Counsel to the petitioner, Yahaya Mahmud (SAN), that INEC's announcement caused the disenfranchisement of voters in the state constituency. 

The Chairman agreed that the non conduct of the elections in the constituency was a consequence of the postponement of the elections by INEC.

He upheld that   the claim by  the petitioner that only 40 per cent of the electorate participated in the election as a result of the INEC's announcement.

Reacting to the tribunal's verdict, Counsel to the petitioner, Yahaya Mahmud (SAN), commended the tribunal for granting their prayers.

But the respondent, Abubakar Musa, said in his reaction that he would appeal the judgment, citing inconsistencies in the evidences tendered by the PDP.   (NAN)