By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The recent Appeal Court judgment that declared the February 25th, 2023 National Assembly election in Birninkudu/Buji federal constituency of Jigawa state inconclusive has elicited wild jubilation as supporters in their hundreds converged at Birninkudu town to celebrate.
The jubilant crowds who were mostly youths expressed their delight over the Appeal Court’s verdict, as they vowed to ensure the victory of honorable Eng. Magajii Da’u Aliyu of All Progressive Congress (APC) on the day of the rerun.
Speaking at the jubilation ground, Malam Kabiru Masamawa, an APC elder in Buji local government, described the judgment as victory for the constituents of Buji/Birninkudun federal constituency.
Malam Masamawa explained that “This victory is not for honorable Magaji, but it is ours because we are the ones that will lose if Engineer Dau is not in the House of Reps
He called on the people in the polling units where the rerun will take place to come out in their large numbers to vote APC and ensure the votes are counted peacefully.
The Appeal court judgment came following the appeal filed before the court by Hon Adamu Yakubu, a People Democratic Party (PDP) candidate who was declared the winner of the election by INEC.
The PDP candidate had challenged the rulling of Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Dutse, Jigawa State, that declared the result of the 2023 election of Birnin Kudu/Buji Federal Constituency inconclusive at the Court of Appeal
The earlier petition was filed before the Tribunal by Hon Magaji Dau Aliyu of APC who had challenged the victory of Hon Adamu Yakubu of PDP, who was declared winner by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).
In its earlier judgment, the tribunal under the chairmanship of Justice A. A. Okeke had ruled that INEC did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC regulations and guidelines, and the manual for Election officials for the 2023 election in conducting the election and declaring the results of some polling units.
By the judgment of the Appeal Court INEC is now mandated to organize a bye election at the affected poling units of Birninkudu/Buji federal constituency.
The affected eight poling Units have the total number of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) collected put at 6, 351 and the APC candidate, Engr Da’u was trailing behind the PDP candidate Hon Adamu Yakubu with 1,926 votes.