Kwankwaso ‘wins’ at election petition tribunal

The national assembly elections petition tribunal has dismissed a petition filed by Senator Bashir Lado challenging the victory of Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano state, in the 2015 general election.

Kwankwaso defeated Lado in the March 28 senatorial election for Kano Central Senatorial District.

In his ruling, Justice Corneleaus Akintayo, chairman of the tribunal, dismissed the case for lack of merit, adding that the petitioner had failed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt.

The tribunal chairman noted that Lado had not established a prima facie evidence against the respondent.

He said the request by the petitioner for the tribunal to nullify the election based on the substitution of the name of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf with that of the respondent was untenable.

He said the tribunal had no evidence to declare the election null and void, and therefore considered the result of the election credible.

Akintayo also said the petitioner had failed to provide genuine evidence to prove that the results of the election did not reflect the conduct of the polls.

The tribunal’s verdict was greeted with jubilation by supporters of the former governor, who had thronged the venue to witness the judgement.