The National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Minna, Niger State on Thursday upheld the election of Alhaji Lado Abdullahi, the member representing Suleja, Gurara, Tafa Federal Constituency.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Lado’s election was challenged by Mukhtar Ahmed of the Peoples Democratic Party on the grounds that the All Progressives Congress candidate was not qualified to contest the March 28 elections.
The petitioner alleged that Lado did not possess the minimum educational qualification as stipulated by law and had forged the certificates he presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest the election.
Delivering judgement after reviewing evidences adduced by parties in the matter, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Olatunde Oshodi, dismissed the petition for lack of merit.
Oshodi ordered the petitioner to pay the sum of N100,000 to each of the respondents.
Reacting to the verdict, counsel to the petitioner, Mohammed Mohammed, told newsmen that they would study the judgement and decide on the next line of action.
“Well, we are going to review the judgement of the tribunal and advice our client accordingly,” Mohammed said.
NAN.