Kano Central: Petitioner makes final submission as Senator Hanga’s fate dims

The battle for the soul of Kano Central Senatorial District is gradually taking a dramatic turn as the petitioner and Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdulkarim Abdulsalam Saleh has presented his final written address to the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal Holden in Kano.

Abdulkarim Saleh is challenging the February 25, 2023 parliamentary election that produced Senator Rufa’i Hanga as winner of the election on the platform of the New Nigeria Political Party, NNPP.

Listed as respondents are the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the New Nigeria Political Party, NNPP, Rufa’i Hanga and Shekarau Ibrahim.

Alhaji Abdulkarim Abdulsalam Saleh who is the Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress in his petition dated 17th March, 2023 argued that he contested election with the 4th respondent, Senator Shekarau Ibrahim, who he believed was sponsored by his political party, the NNPP and not Rufa’i Hanga who was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Citing relevant sections of the Constitution, 1999 as amended in pari-material with the provisions of Electoral 2010 as amended, the petitioner averred that Rufa’i Hanga cannot be a beneficiary of the February 25, parliamentary election, which he was the second runner up.

In the summary pleadings submitted to the Tribunal, the petitioner insisted that, the 3rd respondent was, at the time of election, not qualified to contest election; that the 3rd respondent was not duly elected by majority of the lawful votes cast at the election.”

In the copy of the Tribunal documents obtained by CAPITAL POST in Kano, it indicated that it was only the 2nd and 3rd respondents that joined issues with the petitioner by filing their replies which were submitted to the panel on 6th April, 2023.

CAPITAL POST recalled that the judicial panel dismissed the response of the 1st respondent for filing their application out of time frame.

The fundamental issue pointed out by the petitioner which he may have backed by sufficient proofs was that the “NNPP sponsored Shekarau Ibrahim and not Rufa’i Hanga”, hence, should there be a development to the contrary, votes cast in favour of NNPP should be declared wasted.

The petitioner went ahead to call a sole witness in person of Alhaji Yusuf Atta as PW1 who was cross examined in line with the Court proceedings.

Other documents admitted in evidence by the Tribunal are: NNPP membership register, INEC Form EC9; INEC’s final list of Senatorial Candidates; INEC final declaration of election results; Judgements of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, Court of Appeal Abuja Division and supreme Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1623/2022, NNPP vs INEC and Appeal No. SC/CV/149/2022, INEC vs NNPP, 45 copies of INEC EC8A and Certified True Copy of the BVAS report for Kano Central Senatorial District Election held on 25th February, 2023.

The petitioner pleaded that he should be declared winner of the election.

Source close to Senator Rufa’i Hanga indicated that the Lawmaker has been tensed with the development as the final judgement is being awaited.