by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Appeal Court, sitting in Abuja, has nullified the election of Hon. Yusuf Dahiru Liman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), representing Makera Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, and ordered a re-run in 5 polling units.
Hon. Solomon Nuhu Katuka of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had earlier filed a petition before the tribunal challenging the election of Hon Yusuf Dahiru Liman of the APC (representing Makera constituency) in the House of Assembly.
The PDP candidate argued that, there were “gross irregularities” regarding the election of the Liman and Speaker of Kaduna State Assembly, stating that he (Solomon Nuhu Katuka) won the election.
However, in its ruling, the tribunal nullified the election of Liman on the 30th of September, 2023, and ordered a re-run in 42 polling units.
The polling units (PUs), it was gathered, are 37 in Makera Ward alone, 2 in Barnawa Ward, 1 in Kakuri Gwari Ward, 1 in Television Ward, and 1 PU in Kakuri Hausa Ward, making a total of 42 Polling Units.
However, having been dissatisfied with the court verdict, the APC, along with Dahiru Liman and INEC filed an appeal against the judgment of the Tribunal, while filing a cross-appeal seeking an outright declaration.
But, notwithstanding the aggrieved complainants, the Appeal Court judgment – delivered by Justice O.O. Adejumo, Justice A.O. Oyetula, and Justice P. An Obiora – on Friday, 24th November, 2023, in Abuja dismissed the appeal by sacking the Speaker, and ordered a re-run in 5 polling units, namely, Barnawa Ward PU 005 and 009, Kakuri Gwari PU 006, Television Ward PU 022, and Kakuri Hausa Ward PU 045.
At the moment, the vote’s counts are: APC 17,470 and PDP 17,088. The court ruled that, the nullification of the election came about “on the margin of lead 382, which was less than the number of PVCs collected in the above polling units.”