The National and State Houses of Assembly election petitions tribunal sitting in Sokoto has sacked Umar Yusuf Yabo Danmaje, a member of the House of Representatives representing Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency of Sokoto State.
In a unanimous judgement read by the Tribunal chairman, Justice Ashu A. Ewah, on Monday, the court declared Danmaje’s election as null and void.
Justice Ewah said the election, which was initially conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in 2023 before a rerun was held on February 3, 2024, was marred by irregularities in some polling units.
The Tribunal ordered INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Danmaje and conduct a fresh election in the affected polling units of the constituency within 90 days.
Danmaje was also ordered to pay a sum of N500,000 as damages to the petitioner as a cost of action instituted against his election at the Tribunal.
The election is to be conducted in four affected polling units of the two local government areas of Yabo and Shagari in the constituency.