The National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Kano has sacked Dankawu Idris, a federal lawmaker representing Kumbotso constituency, for forging his secondary school certificate. The tribunal ruled in favor of Mannir Danagundi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring him the rightful winner of the election. This is the second case of a NNPP lawmaker being unseated due to certificate forgery.
Breaking news from Nigeria reveals another instance of a federal lawmaker being unseated over certificate forgery. Dankawu Idris, a member of the New Nigeria's People Party (NNPP) representing the Kumbotso federal constituency in the House of Representatives, has been ousted by the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Kano.
The tribunal, chaired by I. Chima, found Idris guilty of forging his senior school leaving certificate, specifically his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate. As a result, Mannir Danagundi, a candidate from the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared the rightful winner of the election that took place on 25 February.
This recent judgement sends a strong message that electoral fraud will not be tolerated in Nigeria. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been ordered to issue Danagundi a certificate of return, solidifying his victory.
Mannir Danagundi had initially raised concerns about the election results and decided to challenge the legitimacy of Dankawu Idris' victory at the election petition tribunal. His suspicions about Idris' qualifications were confirmed when the tribunal uncovered the forgery.
Notably, this is the second time a NNPP lawmaker has been removed from office due to certificate forgery in Kano. In August, the tribunal nullified the election of Mukhtar Yarima, the member representing Tarauni Federal Constituency, for the same offense. It is a stark reminder that integrity and adherence to the law are paramount in public office.
In addition to the certificate forgery cases, the NNPP has suffered another loss of a federal seat in the House of Representatives. The other loss ensued from a candidate's failure to resign from their initial place of work within the stipulated 30 days before the election, as mandated by the Electoral Act, 2022. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has benefitted from these sacking decisions, gaining three additional seats in Kano.
While Dankawu Idris and Mukhtar Yarima have not publicly announced whether they will challenge the tribunal's ruling in a higher court, they have the right to do so under the electoral law. It remains to be seen if they will exercise this option.
This latest incident highlights the importance of upholding the rule of law, election integrity, and ensuring that elected officials possess the necessary qualifications. The tribunal's ruling serves as a deterrent to potential fraudsters and emphasizes the significance of the electoral process in Nigeria.
Source of content: OOO News 2023-09-12 News
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