BY TINA AKANNAM

Dutse-The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Dutse Monday, dismissed the petition filed by the former Governor of Jigawa State, Senator Saminu Turaki challenging the validity of Senator Danladi Adamu Sankara, PDP, representing Jigawa North senatorial district for lack of merit.

Delivering judgment on the petition, Justice Cirual Nwaya observed that the petitioners failed to prove their cases beyond reasonable doubt, adding that their allegations were based on hearsay.

The Presiding Judge explained that the petitioners filed their petition on May 14, 2011 alleging that the April Senatorial election in Jigawa north Senatorial District was characterised by malpractices including, stuffing of ballot boxes, multiple thumb printing, manipulation of election results at Gwiwa Local Government Area and that the result was announced in the residence of the local government chairman, in favour of Senator Sankara, contrary to the provisions of the 2010 Electoral Act as amended.

According to him, the petitioners also alleged that the Jigawa State Government released over N4 billion from the State and Local Governments Joint Account and purchased election materials in order to rig the election in favour of the PDP candidate, yet the petitioners failed to provide substantial evidence to back up their allegations.

Justice Nwaya also pointed out that the petitioners further alleged that, the first respondent did not attend primary or secondary school, adding that he presented fake certificate to INEC which contravened Section 31(5) and (6) of the 2010 Electoral Act, adding that they also alleged that he, (Danladi Abdullahi Adamu Sankara) brought false school leaving certificate from Kuru primary school which he told the tribunal he lost the original one and the headmistress of the school issued him a new one.

Nwaya said the tribunal disregarded the allegations since he obtained a diploma in data processing from Sani Abacha Youth centre, and was also, the chairman/Chief Executive of a corporate organisation by name Sankara Motors Nigeria Limited.

The judge noted that the first respondent was appointed chairman of the board of Directors of Hadejia Jamaare River Basin Development Authority for four years during former president Olusegun Obasanjo’ s regime just as he was vice the chairman, Northwest PDP, hence he was eligible to contest the senatorial election.

The tribunal then ordered the petitioners to pay N50, 000 each to first, second third four and fifth respondents respectively for wasting their time.

Similarly, the tribunal also struck out petition filed by Alhaji Isah Karkarna challenging the validity of the election of Hon. Bashir Adamu, member representing Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, Yankwashi Federal Constituency over allegations of corrupt practices and non compliance with the provisions of Electoral Act 2010.

Also, in his judgment, Justice Fatima Akinbamni said that, the petition lacked merit as the petitioner failed to prove his allegations beyond reasonable doubt.

The petitioner was asked to pay the five defendants in the matter N50, 000 each for wasting their time.

Furthermore, the tribunal also dismissed the petition filed against the member representing Dutse/ Kiyawa Federal Constituency, Hon. Mustapha Muhammad who was challenged by Yakubu Muhammad of the ACN.