Tribunal removes PDP’s Rep in Niger, orders rerun

The certificate of return issued to Joshua Gana of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the winner of the National Assembly Election in the Mokwa, Edati, and Lavun Federal Constituency of Niger State on February 25 has been revoked by the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal.

Election officials were told to nullify Gana’s victory and hold new elections in 23 precincts across the constituency.

Gana’s opponent in the election, Abdullahi Gbatamagi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), petitioned the tribunal to have him reinstated as the victor.

According to Gbatamagi, the respondent was unsuccessful in a number of voting locations across the three federal constituencies of Edati, Lavun, and Mokwa due to anomalies and other electoral malpractices.

He asked the court to declare him the winner of the election despite the results.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the panel led by Justice Mohammed Rashid concluded that the petitioner had presented sufficient evidence to warrant a favourable ruling.

The respondent’s certificate of return was revoked by INEC under the tribunal’s unanimous decision.

Within the next ninety days, Justice Rashid also mandated that a rerun election be held in the twenty-three impacted polling locations.