Kaduna Central: Court affirms Sen Usman’s election

On Saturday, the tribunal in Kaduna State upheld the election of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Lawal Adamu-Usman as the senator for Kaduna Central.

On four grounds—school certificate fabrication, overvoting, non-compliance, and the nomination and sponsorship of the candidate—All Progressives Congress (APC) member Abdullahi Muhammad-Sani has petitioned to overturn the election of the PDP senator.

The three-person panel chaired by Justice H.H. Kereng rejected all the petitioners’ arguments and validated the first respondent’s election and reelection. We’re going to have to deny your petition.

The judge had previously stated that the petitioner did not provide sufficient evidence to establish that the respondent’s NECO results and other academic credentials were fraudulent.

He continued by saying the petitioner had not shown that the majority of voters on February 25 had not legitimately elected the respondent.

The difference between the APC’s 182, 035 votes and the PDP’s 225, 066 votes is 43, 031. The petitioner has not provided compelling evidence that the respondent did not receive a majority of the vote. Since the first responder has the stronger argument, he ruled in their favor and against the petitioner.

The judge ruled that the petitioner had failed to provide sufficient evidence of non-compliance to overturn the election results.

He continued by ruling in favor of the respondent because political parties, not the courts, are responsible for the sponsorship and nomination of candidates.