The election petition tribunal sitting in Kwara State has nullified the election that produced Hassan Elewu as member of the State House of Assembly representing Ilorin South constituency.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in the election, Jimoh Agboola, had challenged the election of APC candidate for allegedly not qualified to contest the election.
However, according to a report on Thursday by ThisDay, the tribunal ordered that fresh election be conducted in the constituency within three months.
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In his judgment, Justice Mariya Ismaila, said the issue of jurisdiction was resolved against the respondents-Sulaiman Shehu Abdulsalam, APC and the INEC.
The tribunal, on its stance over jurisdiction, to entertain the matter, held that it had the prerequisites powers to hear the petition and that it is fortified by the provision of section 138 (1) (a-e) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).
However, the tribunal further found that since all the respondents have deposed that Mr Elewu is the candidate of the APC, and that the presumption that Sulaiman Shehu Abdulsalam is the candidate of APC has been successfully rebutted.
In the circumstance, the tribunal nullified the poll that was conducted with respect to Ilorin South election, ordered INEC to withdraw any Certificate of Return already issued in respect of the said election, and ordered a fresh election which the tribunal held must be conducted within three months.
Similarly, the election of a member of the House of Representatives, Obinna Onwubuariri, representing Isiala Mbano/Onuimo/Okigwe federal constituency of Imo state, has been annulled.
The cancellation of Onwubuariri’s election was effected by the National Assembly elections petitions tribunal in Owerri, the state capital, on Wednesday, September 18.
According to the ruling delivered by the chairman of the panel, R. Harriman, a rerun election is to be conducted in the constituency by INEC.
This came after the petitioner, Princess Miriam Onuoha of the APC, claimed before the tribunal that the annulled election was fraught with over-voting, mutilation of figures, and the reduction of her votes.
