The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed Malam Rufai Hanga as the Senator‑elect for Kano Central Senatorial District of Kano State, representing the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the National Assembly. The judgment, prepared by Justice Uwani Aba‑Aji and delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, held that the appeal filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lacked merit and dismissed the suit.
In its verdict, the apex court resolved the two issues presented, rejecting the arguments against Hanga’s candidacy. The court also removed former Kano State governor and former Minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau as the NNPP candidate in the February 25 National Assembly election.
Earlier, a Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Abuja had upheld Hanga’s candidature after Shekarau withdrew from the party and the senatorial race due to irreconcilable differences with the party’s leadership. INEC appealed those decisions, but the appellate court rejected the challenge. Consequently, INEC took the matter to the Supreme Court, which affirmed the lower courts’ rulings and confirmed Hanga as the lawful candidate for the senatorial district.
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