JUST IN: INEC Fixes Date For Doguwa-Kiru Rerun Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed January 25, 2020, for the conduct of the 28 outstanding court-ordered rerun elections across the country including Doguwa- Tudun Wada and Kiru Bebeji federal constituency of Kano state.

INEC announced its decision in a statement signed by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye, on Thursday.

According to the statement, the election petition tribunals that were constituted to try cases that arose from the 2019 general elections received a total of 807 post-election petitions, out of which 582 were dismissed and 183 withdrawn by petitioners.

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Solacebase recalled that court of appeal nullified the election of Jibrin Abdulmumin, the lawmaker representing Kiru/Bebeji constituency in Kano state on November 1^st.

Abdulmumin of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner of the February election with 41,700 votes, while Aliyu Yako of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 40,385.

In a ruling delivered November 1^st on Friday, the presiding judge, Justice Ajoke Adepoju, annulled the election on the grounds that the final result contained in Form EC (8)E was mutilated.

Also, the Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna on November 4^th  sacked member representing Tudunwada/Doguwa Federal Constituency, Alhassan Ado Doguwa.

Solacebase recalled that on September 5, the election petition tribunal sitting in Kano dismissed a petition filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Yusha’u Salisu, against Ado Doguwa’s election.

However, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Adefope-Okojie, the Court of Appeal expressed surprise how the tribunal arrived at the conclusion that PDP and its candidate had failed to prove their case.

The court nullified the entire election in the two local government areas Ado Doguwa represents as the whole process was marred by irregularities and ordered a rerun within 90 days.

According to the statement,  “After consideration of several issues surrounding the rerun elections, including the time needed for preparations, establishing the full details of the affected areas from court judgments as well as the intervention of the Yuletide, the Commission has decided to hold all the 28 outstanding court-ordered rerun elections on Saturday 25th January 2020.

“It is important to note that arising from the 2019 general election, a total of 807 post-election petitions was filed at various tribunals. Out of this figure, 582 were dismissed, while 183 were withdrawn by the petitioners. Out of the remaining 42, the tribunals ordered reruns in 30 and issuance of certificates of return in 12 cases.

The statement further explained that of the remaining 42 cases, 30 were decided for rerun and 12 ordered to give certificates of return. Of the 30 rerun cases, two; Kogi West Senatorial District supplementary rerun election and Ajaokuta Federal Constituency rerun election, had been conducted on November 30.

“In many of the cases, elections are to be rerun in only a few polling units. The Commission will make available further details of the affected areas, including the polling units on its website in due course.