The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Kaduna State has fixed July 16 for pre-hearing in the petition filed against the election of Governor Nasiru El-Rufa’i.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the April 11 polls in the state, Polycap Danladi, filed the petition challenging El-Rufai’s victory.
The All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission were joined as second and third respondents respectively.
In the petition, Danladi asked the court to nullify the election and order for fresh polls.
He said: “The first respondent was not duly elected in accordance with the provision of the Electoral Act.
“The election of the first respondent is void by reason of non compliance with the provision of electoral act.
“The total votes cast in the election was 1,660,109 and in the event that the unlawful votes stated herein were deducted, the first respondent would not have been declared winner.”
NAN recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission had declared El-Rufai of the APC winner of the the governorship election in the state.
El-Rufa’i had defeated 14 other candidates to emerge winner.
The three-member panel, chaired by Justice A. A. Adebara, adjourned sitting to July 16 to begin pre-hearing into the petition.
NAN.
—
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
