The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has sacked the House of Reps member representing Yola North/Yola South/Girei Federal Constituency, Mohammed Salihu (Abba Girei) of the PDP.
The Appeal Court returned the appellant I.e. Candidate of the APC, Hon Abubakar Babazango (Abaza) as duly elected, and further ordered INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return (CoR) awarded to the 2nd Respondent (Abba Girei) and issue a fresh CoR to Zango as duly elected.
On February 27, INEC declared the PDP Candidate, Abba Girei as winner with 71223 votes defeating the APC’s Abaza who scored 54335 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, the APC & Zango approached the tribunal.
In his petition, Zango alleged that Salihu presented a forged primary school certificate and birth certificate. He asked the tribunal to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him a certificate of return as he came second during the election.
While delivering judgement on 21st August 2023, Justice Nkereuwem Obot dismissed the petition for lacking merit and awarded N600,000 in favour of the Respondents.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, Zango approached the Appellate Court where his appeal now succeeds.
