In a recent development, the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Kaduna has made a significant ruling. The tribunal, which convened on Friday, has dismissed a petition filed by Gideon Gwani, the House of Representatives candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaura Federal Constituency. Gwani had sought to challenge the validity of the election victory of Donatus Mathew, the candidate from the Labour Party (LP). However, the tribunal has now rejected Gwani’s petition.
In a stunning turn of events, Donatus, a former Okada rider, emerged victorious in the highly anticipated House of Representatives election held on February 25th, 2023. The election, meticulously conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saw Donatus rise to prominence as he secured a resounding win.
In a stunning turn of events, Gideon Gwani, the former Minority Whip of the 9th Assembly in the House of Representatives, has taken legal action to challenge the outcome of the recent election. Gwani, clearly dissatisfied with the results, has filed a petition at the tribunal in a bold move to invalidate the victory of Donatus.
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In a significant development, Justice F.A. Fiberesima, presiding over the case, delivered a verdict on Friday. Leading a distinguished three-man panel that attentively listened to the petition, Justice Fiberesima made a decisive ruling. Regrettably for the petitioner, the case was dismissed. However, in a gesture of compensation, the honorable Justice awarded Donatus a sum of N1.6 million in damages.
In a press conference held on Friday, In a recent development, the counsel representing the respondent, Zakari Sogfa, made a statement regarding the ongoing case. According to Sogfa, the petitioner has presented two prayers to the court. The first prayer revolves around the respondent, Donatus, and questions his eligibility to participate in the election that led to his selection as the flag bearer for his party in the Kaura Federal Constituency.
In a recent development, it has been reported that a conclusion was made by an individual, who claimed that Donatus, a political candidate, lacked sponsorship from his political party. Furthermore, it was alleged that there were instances of electoral malpractice in five specific areas. However, it is worth noting that the Tribunal dismissed two prayers related to these claims, citing a lack of merit.
In a recent development, it has been reported that the tribunal has made a ruling regarding Gwani’s authority in determining a political party to sponsor its candidate. According to sources, it has been stated that the tribunal has determined that Gwani does not possess the right to decide which political party should sponsor its candidate, but rather, it should focus on matters such as flying its flag and conducting its elections.
In a recent statement, Sogfa, a prominent figure, expressed their opinion regarding the council’s ability to nullify the election. They firmly believe that such an action would be seen as interference in political party affairs, especially considering that the matter being discussed is related to pre-election issues.