The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the election of Yusuf Liman, the Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, representing Makera Constituency in the House, ordering a re-run in five polling units.
The election tribunal had ordered a re-run in 42 Polling Units – 37 in Makera Ward, 2 in Barnawa, 1 in Kakuri Gwari, 1 in Television Ward and 1 in Kakuri Hausa Ward, thus making it 42 polling units.
The Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Solomon Katuka, had filed a petition before the tribunal challenging the election of the speaker, who is the candidate of the APC representing Makera Constituency at the House of Assembly.
Katuka had argued that there were gross irregularities regarding the election of the Speaker, saying that he won the election.
Consequently, in its ruling, the tribunal nullified the election of Liman on September 30, 2023, and ordered a rerun in 42 polling units.
However, dissatisfied with the judgment of the tribunal, APC, Dahiru Liman, and INEC filed an appeal against the judgment of the tribunal while filing a cross-appeal seeking an outright declaration.
But the Appeal Court in a judgment delivered by Justice O. O Adejumo, Justice A . O Oyetula, and Justice P. A. Obiora on Friday, in Abuja dismissed the appeal by sacking the Speaker and ordered a rerun in five polling units, namely Barnawa ward PU 005 and 009, Kakuri Gwari PU 006, Television ward PU 022, and Kakuri Hausa ward PU 045.
As it stands now, the votes are APC 17,470 and PDP 17,088.
The court ruled that it was nullified on the margin of lead 382, which was less than the number of PVCs collected in the above polling units.
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