JUST IN: Appeal Court Sacks House Leader, Alhassan Doguwa

The Kaduna Division of the Appeal Court on Monday sacked member representing Tudunwada/Doguwa Federal Constituency, Alhassan Ado Doguwa.

The Appeal Court nullified the election in the two local government areas of Tudunwada/Doguwa Federal Constituency, confirming that the whole process was marred by irregularities.

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In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie, the court held that the entire election could not hold as other parties were omitted from the final declaration of the result.

Solacebase Reports that the other judges include Justice Hussaini Muktar and Justice Sa’id Tanko Husaini.

The appellants in the case were the PDP and its candidate, Air Commodore Salisu Yushau.

The appellant court said INEC, made a substantial breach by writing the results of only two parties out of 53 parties that took part in the election in Form EC 8 (II) E.

The Court subsequently ordered INEC to organise a rerun election in the two local governments.

However, a House of Representatives member, Abdulmumin Jubrin, representing Bebeji/Kiru Federal Constituency has expressed surprise over the court of appeal judgment nullifying his election.

A statement issued by the former Lawmaker, on Friday said in the petition, the court was specifically asked to nullify the results of the 23rd February 2019, an election in 13 polling units.

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It said, however, out of the 13 Polling Units challenged, only one witness, who was not listed on the petitioners’ list of witnesses, and who deposed to being both a member of the All progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party member at the same time, gave evidence in respect of all the said 13 polling units.

According to the statement, the witness neither personally saw nor did he directly encounter events in the polling units he purported to give evidence about. We pointed this out in our representations to the Judges and the Tribunal agreed with us that the pçetition was without merit.

‘’The petitioners appealed to the Court of Appeal, and by a decision delivered earlier today, the petitioners’ appeal was allowed. Strangely, even though the petitioners’ sole relief as it related to a rerun election before the Tribunal and Court of Appeal was for a nullification of the afore-said 13 polling units, the Court of Appeal, on its own volition nullified the entire election of 23rd February 2019.’’

He affirmed in the statement, as a good Muslim, one who has an unflinching belief in the will of Allah, he knows full well that all events are within the scope of The Almighty, and this is no exception.

He said as he profoundly disagrees with the decision of the Court of Appeal, but as a thoroughbred democrat,  have received the court’s decision in good faith, and forced to accept it even though it runs contrary to other precedents of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

‘’Bearing in mind the fact that ours is a nascent democracy, I implore all my supporters and well-wishing Nigerians to continue to pray that decisions of our Courts actually dispense Justice based on facts, law and correct precedents and without improper influences. ‘’

‘’As we go back for the rerun,  I urge my supporters and well-wishers to remain calm. No election is a do or dies affair. I remain unshaken in my belief that the people of Kiru/Bebeji who have consistently and repeatedly been freely giving me their mandate will not hesitate in doing so again’’, said the statement.