In a significant development, the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal for Sokoto/Zamfara States has nullified the election of Umar Yusuf Yabo Danmaje, the member of the House of Representatives representing the Yabo/Shagari federal constituency of Sokoto State.
The Tribunal, sitting in Sokoto, unanimously ruled that the election, which was initially held in 2023 and rerun on February 3, 2024, was marred by malpractices in some polling units, rendering the exercise inconclusive.
Justice Ashu A. Ewah, the Tribunal chairman, delivering the judgment, declared Danmaje’s election as null and void. The Tribunal further ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Danmaje and conduct a fresh election in the affected polling units within 90 days.
The affected polling units, as identified by the Tribunal, are located in the Shagari and Yabo local government areas of the Yabo/Shagari federal constituency. Specifically, the Tribunal directed INEC to conduct elections in three polling units in Shagari LGA and one polling unit in Yabo LGA.
The Tribunal also ordered Danmaje to pay a sum of N500,000 as damages to the petitioner as a cost of the action instituted against his election.
The ruling was made by the Tribunal panel, which includes Justice Helen N. Hammanjoda and Justice Ali T. Changbo, in addition to the Tribunal chairman, Justice Ewah.
This decision is seen as a significant step in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and upholding the democratic rights of the constituents of the Yabo/Shagari federal constituency.
The fresh election ordered by the Tribunal is expected to provide an opportunity for the residents of the affected polling units to exercise their franchise and choose their representative in the House of Representatives.