Doguwa: Tribunal Strikes Out NNPP’s Plea On Supplementary Poll

The election tribunal sitting in Kano has  struck out a plea by Air Commodore Salisu Yusha’u (rtd) seeking to restrain the conduct of a supplementary election in Doguwa/Tudun-wada Federal Constituency.

INEC had fixed  April 15 to conclude the process.

Justice L.B Lawal-Akapo who presided over the proceedings at tribunal ruled that it lacks jurisdiction to halt INEC from conducting the supplementary poll.

The turn of event was brought about by decision of INEC which had earlier declared Alhassan Ado Doguwa winner of the election, but declared it inconclusive as the returning officer who supervised the conduct of the election was said to have made the declaration under duress.

Counsel to the applicant, Barrister Bashir Yusuf Tudun Wuzirci, had approached the court challenging the decision of the commission to go ahead with the rerun.

The counsel submitted that the action of the commission was challengeable by any of the contestants and according to him, the tribunal has the power to look into the decision of the commission as it relates to organising a rerun.

The tribunal invited the counsel to the applicant to address it on the issue.