The Appeal Court in Abuja has invalidated the election of Hon Yusuf Dahiru Liman from the All Progressives Congress (APC), who represented Makera constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
The court has mandated a re-run in five polling units.
Earlier, Hon Solomon Nuhu Katuka of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lodged a petition before the tribunal, challenging the victory of the APC’s Hon Yusuf Dahiru Liman, the assembly’s speaker representing Makera constituency.
The PDP candidate contended that significant irregularities marred the election of the speaker, asserting his own victory. However, the tribunal, in its judgment, nullified Liman’s election on September 30, 2023, and directed a re-run in 42 polling units.
The polling units, it was gathered, are 37 PUs in Makera ward, 2 PUs in Barnawa ward, 1 PU in Kakuri Gwari ward, 1 PU in Television ward, and 1 PU in Kakuri Hausa ward, making it 42 polling units.
Dissatisfied with the judgement of the Tribunal, APC, Dahiru Liman, and INEC filed an appeal against the judgement of the Tribunal while filing a cross-appeal seeking an outright declaration.
However, the Appeal Court judgement 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, ordered a rerun 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.
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.
