In a pivotal judgment delivered on Thursday, a three-member tribunal dealt a significant blow to the political aspirations of Kano’s NNPP representative, declaring his election victory null and void due to the forgery of a primary school certificate.
The ruling emerged as a response to a petition lodged by Hafizu Kawu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a former member of the house of representatives, who sought re-election. Kawu’s petition contested the victory of Yarima, who had secured the Tarauni federal constituency poll with 26,273 votes, outpacing Kawu’s 15,931 votes.
Kawu’s claims extended beyond certificate forgery, also highlighting various irregularities such as over-voting and non-compliance with the electoral act, casting a shadow on the integrity of the election.
The tribunal, in its verdict, not only declared Yarima guilty of certificate forgery but also challenged the legitimacy of the NNPP candidate, asserting that the party did not truly have a valid candidate in the election. Consequently, the tribunal mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to retract the certificate of return previously awarded to Yarima.
This ruling not only reshapes the political landscape in Kano but underscores the significance of adhering to the highest standards of qualification and integrity in the nation’s electoral processes.