BY SUZAN EDEH
Bauchi—Bauchi State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Bauchi State has nullified the election of Idi Shehu Tiyin of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and member representing Warji Constituency in the state House of Assembly, declaring Hamza Gawo of the Action Congress, of Nigeria, ACN, as the legitimate winner of the last April election.

Gawo had earlier filed a petition challenging the election of Tiyin on the ground that it was not in conformity with the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, due to massive rigging and other electoral malpractices including: ballot stuffing, snatching of ballot boxes and falsification of credentials.

The petitioner who called witnesses to prove his allegations including officials of the  Certificate Evaluation Department of the Federal Ministry of Education who testified on the Standard Certificate of Education said to have have issued by a USA- based institution, saying that the institution was not accredited by the Federal Government.

“The Standard Association Examining Board USA is not on this ministry’s list of  accredited examinations bodies, either in  USA or in Nigeria, consequently the certificate issued to Idi Shehu Tiyin in January 2000 by the Standard Association Examinations… is not recognized for employment in Nigeria or upgrading for further studies,” the Ministry told the Tribunal.

In  her judgement ,the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Maria Zukogi  said the petitioner failed to prove the criminal allegations made in his petition, pointing out however, that based on evidence before the tribunal, Tiyin was not qualified to contest the election, and declared Gawo, who came second with majority of votes as the winner.

Zukogi then ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to issue Gawo with a Certificate of Return and withdraw the one earlier issed to Tiyin.

Relatedly, the tribunal also dismissed the petition filed by Isiyaka Adamu of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC,  and upheld the election of Bilyaminu Usman, PDP, as a member representing Burra state constituency in the state House of Assembly.

In her judgement, Justice Zukogi said the petitioner made criminal allegations of electoral fraud, irregularities, and violations of the Electoral Act 2010, adding  that criminal allegations must be proved beyond reasonable doubt which the petitioner failed to do and then dismissed the petition.