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Kola Popson
The National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal has dismissed a petition filed by Sen. Bashir Lado questioning the victory of the immediate past Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, in the 2015 Kano State Central Senatorial election.
It would be recalled that INEC had declared Kwankwaso the winner of the March 28 senatorial election in the state, leading to his emergence as the serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
While ruling, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Corneleaus Akintayo held that the case lacks merit thereby dismissed it. He also added that the petitioner, Bashir Lado, had failed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt, noting that Lado had not established a prima facie evidence against the respondent.
In addition, Justice Akintayo said the demand by Bashir Lado for the tribunal to annul the election on the premise that the name of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf was substituted with that of the Senator Kwankwaso was untenable. According to him, the tribunal has no proof to declare the election null and void, and therefore, considers the result of the election credible.
Justice Akintayo also noted that the petitioner had failed to provide genuine evidence to prove that the results of the election did not reflect the conduct of the polls.
After Justice Akintayo has delivered his verdict, this was followed by a wild jubilation from the supporters of Senator Kwankwaso, who were at the venue to witness the long awaited verdict.
