From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has upheld the decision of the tribunal court, which declared the 2023 election in Birnin Kudu / Buji federal constituency of Jigawa state as inconclusive.
The verdict, delivered by the Chairman of the Appeal Court, Justice Ogochuku Anthony Ogakwu, has directed the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a bye-election within 30 days at eight polling units in the constituency.
This decision stems from an appeal filed before the court by Hon. Adamu Yakubu, a candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP), who was initially declared the winner of the election by INEC.
Hon. Adamu Yakubu had raised concerns about the ruling of the Election Tribunal in Dutse, Jigawa State, which deemed the 2023 election result in Birnin Kudu / Buji Federal Constituency as inconclusive.
The initial petition was filed with the Tribunal by Hon. Magaji Dau Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), contesting the victory of Hon. Adamu Yakubu of the PDP, who had been declared the winner by INEC.
The Tribunal, led by Justice A. A. Okeke, had determined that INEC had not adhered to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC regulations, guidelines, and the manual for Election officials for the 2023 election while conducting the election and declaring results at some polling units.
Following the Appeal Court’s ruling, INEC is now mandated to organize a bye-election in the affected polling units of Birnin Kudu / Buji federal constituency.
It’s worth noting that these eight affected polling units account for a total of 6,351 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) collected. In the previously declared results, the APC candidate, Mr. Da’u, was trailing behind the PDP candidate, Hon. Adamu Yakubu, by 1,926 votes.