In a significant development, the National and State House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal, based in Kano, has taken the decision to remove Hon. Muktar Umar Yarima from his position as the representative of Tarauni Federal Constituency under the banner of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
This verdict, handed down on Thursday, stems from allegations of certificate forgery against Yarima.
The tribunal, consisting of three members, concluded that the primary school certificate submitted by Yarima was indeed forged. As a result of this finding, the tribunal issued a directive to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). They instructed INEC to declare Honourable Hafizu Ibrahim Kawu, the candidate representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the rightful winner of the election. Additionally, the tribunal mandated INEC to promptly issue a Certificate of Return to Kawu.
In the original general elections, the returning officer for Tarauni Federal Constituency, Garba Galadanchi, had announced Hon. Muktar Umar Yarima of NNPP as the victor of the Tarauni parliamentary election. Yarima had secured a total of 26,273 votes, surpassing the APC’s Kawu, who managed to garner 15,931 votes.
However, in the run-up to the 2023 polls, Kawu, a former member and a candidate seeking re-election, approached the tribunal with a legal challenge. He contested Yarima’s victory on multiple grounds, including the allegation of presenting a fraudulent certificate. Additionally, Kawu pointed out instances of irregularities in the election process, such as over-voting and non-compliance with electoral regulations. The tribunal’s decision now underscores the consequences of these allegations.
