Politics

The Appeal Court voids the Kaduna Speaker’s election and mandates a rerun in five polling places

The Appeal Court has nullified the election of the Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly Hon. Yusuf Dahiru Liman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Makera State House of Assembly constituency in Kaduna State, and ordered re-run in five polling units.

Recall that the election tribunal in their ruling on the petition had ordered a re-run in 42 polling units, 37 in Makera ward, 2 in Barnawa, 1 in Kakuri Gwari,1 in Television ward and 1 in Kakuri Hausa ward making it 42 polling units.

Hon Solomon Nuhu Katuka of Peoples Democratic party( PDP) had challenged Hon Yusuf Dahiru limam of All progressives Congress (APC) victory and ” the tribunal nullified the election of liman on 30th of September 2023 and ordered a rerun in 42 polling units. 37 in Makera ward, 2 in Barnawa, 1 in Kakuri gwari,1in Television ward and 1in Kakuri Hausa ward making it 42 polling units.

Dissatisfied with the judgement of the Tribunal APC, Dahiru Liman and INEC filed Appeal against the judgement of the Tribunal while the candidate of the PDP also filed a cross Appeal seeking for outright declaration.

The appeal court judgement delivered by Justice O. O Adejumo, Justice A .O Oyetula and Justice P. A Obiora on Friday 24th November 2023, dismissed the appeal and upheld the ruling of the tribunal by sacking the Speaker but ordered that the rerun should be in 5 polling units namely Barnawa ward PU 005 and 009, Kakuri Gwari PU006, Television ward PU 022 and Kakuri Hausa ward PU 045.

The votes as it stood now were APC 17470 and PDP 17088 votes. It was nullified on the margin of lead, 382 which was less than the number of PVC collected in the affected polling units.