The former House of Representatives Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, has emerged victorious in the petition filed against him by Salisu Yushau Abdullahi of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Abdullahi sought to cancel Doguwa’s reelection as the representative for the Doguwa/Tudunwada Federal Constituency in Kano.
In delivering the judgment for the petition brought by Abdullahi against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Justice L.B. Owolabi stated that the petitioner failed to establish his case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Justice Owolabi dismissed all three grounds relied upon by the petitioner, which included allegations of corrupt practices by Doguwa, non-compliance with electoral laws, and failure to garner lawful votes. The judge deemed these allegations baseless and insufficient to warrant the cancellation of the election.
Concerning the allegation of violence during the elections, the 21 witnesses presented by the petitioner testified to the absence of any violent incidents. The court unanimously agreed that the petitioner’s 32 witnesses failed to provide substantial evidence to invalidate the election.
During the judgment, the presiding judge expressed astonishment at how all the witnesses of the petitioner conveniently arrived at their respective polling units simultaneously, alleging over-voting at all units, yet failed to recognize their own result sheets. Consequently, the judge deemed their evidence unreliable and untenable.
“The petitioner has failed to make a compelling case capable of invalidating the election of Alhassan Ado Doguwa. Therefore, he is hereby declared duly elected by majority vote,” concluded Justice Owolabi.
