National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal for Sokoto/Zamfara States sitting in Sokoto on Monday dismissed Umar Yusuf Yabo Danmaje, member of the House of Representatives representing Yabo/Shagari federal constituency of Sokoto State.
The Tribunal also ordered Danmaje to pay N500,000 in damages to the petitioner as a cost of the suit brought against his election at the Tribunal.
In a unanimous decision read by Tribunal chairman Justice Ashu A. Ewah, the Court declared Danmaje's election to the House of Representatives as a member representing the Yabo/Shagari federal constituency null and void.
Other Tribunal members include Justice Helen N. Hammanjoda and Justice Ali T. Changbo.
Justice Ewah stated that the election, which was initially conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2023 and rerun on February 3, 2024, was marred by misconduct in several polling units, rendering the process inconclusive.
The Tribunal further directed INEC to withdraw Danmaje's Certificate of Return and hold a new election in the affected polling units of the constituency within 90 days.
The elections are to be held in four polling units: three in Shagari LGA and one in Yabo local government area respectively.
