TRIBUNE

Kano ANPP Senator loses seat

Kola Oyelere, Kano - 09.12.2007

It was jubilation galore at the venue of the Kano State election tribunal when the election of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate, Senator Sule Garo, representing Kano North Senatorial District, was nullified by the Election Tribunal.

He was found guilty of presenting a fake West African Examination Certificate (WAEC) The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Hayatou Gwarzo, who lost the election in the April 21 senatorial election, went to court to challenge Senator Garo’s victory, arguing that Garo did not possess the required qualification to contest the election.

The tribunal then directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise a fresh election within the next three months.

Delivering the judgment, the chairman of the Kano State Election Tribunal, Justice Adamu Jauro, said the ANPP senator failed to prove that he possess the required qualification to stand for elective position as stipulated by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Senator Garo was said to have presented a fake WAEC certificate to INEC from a technical college in the state to give him a minimum qualification to contest in the election, but on verification, the result turned out to be fake.

According to the counsel to the defendant, Barrister Nelson, while speaking with newsmen shortly after the court session, he explained that even though the tribunal had nullified the election, his client can still file an appeal in a higher court to argue his case, adding that he was only found wanting because of qualification.

It would de recalled that the former PDP senator, Bello Hayatu, who lost the last election to the ANPP, filed the suit questioning the victory and his qualification to contest for an elective position without the required qualification. The tribunal has adjourned the petition between the Kano PDP governorship candidate, Alhaji Ahmed Bichi challenging the victory of governor Ibrahim Shekarau to 15th -17th of January 2008.