By Bashir Bello

KANO — The National/State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano has on Monday upheld the election victory of the former majority leader, House of Representatives and member representing Doguwa/Tudunwada Federal Constituency, Alhassan Ado Doguwa at the February 25th, 2023 general election.

Delivering its judgment, the three panel Judge led by Justice L. B. Owolabi dismissed the petition filed by the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP candidate, Salisu Yushau on the ground that the petitioner failed to prove his petition beyond reasonable doubt and as such thrown the petition out.

Justice Owolabi said all the three grounds relied upon by the petitioner, alleged corrupt practices as perpetuated by Alhassan Doguwa, Non-Compliance with Electoral Law, and that failure to have the needed lawful votes to win the Election, were baseless and could not be accepted as reasons to cancel the Election.

On violence during the elections, all the petitioner 21 witnesses testified no Violence during elections as against the testimony of the Petitioner.

The Tribunal in a unanimous decision, agreed that all the 32 witnesses brought about by the Petitioner could not concurrently give enough evidence that would truncate the election.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Owolabi while delivering the judgement said that he wondered how all the Witnesses of the Petitioner arrived at their various Pooling Units same time and witnessed over voting at all the units, but could not recognized their results sheet’s, as such he said their evidences could not stand the test of time and threw it away.

“The Petitioner in whole has failed to make any case capable of truncating the Election of Alhassan Ado Doguwa as such he is hereby returned duly elected by a majority votes”.

Recall that Doguwa was earlier declared winner of the February 25 general election but INEC later withdraw his name from the final list of elected members and afterwards ordered rerun in the area in which he emerged victorious and declared winner by INEC.