Appeal Court upholds election of Bauchi rep, Jafaru Leko

The Court of Appeal sitting successful Abuja, connected Friday, upheld the predetermination of Rep Jafaru Leko arsenic subordinate representing Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State successful the House of Representatives.

The three-member panel, presided by Justice Lawal Shuaibu, dismissed the entreaty filed by Kefas Magaji of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) connected the grounds that it lacked merit.

The tribunal held that the petitioners (Magaji and PDP) failed to beryllium their lawsuit connected the preponderance of evidence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Leko of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the victor of the February 25 wide predetermination into the national constituency seat.

Dissatisfied with the victory, Magaji and the PDP filed a petition challenging Leko’s declaration.

But the National and State Houses of Assembly Elections Tribunal dismissed the petition.

The petitioners proceeded to the Court of Appeal via Appeal No: CA/J/EPT/BA/HR/05/2023 betwixt Barrister Kefas M. Magaji and PDP Vs. Jafaru Gambo Leko, APC and INEC.

Delivering the judgement connected Friday, the Appeal Court agreed with the submission of Mr Johnson Usman, SAN, counsel to Leko, that the proceedings tribunal was close erstwhile it dismissed the petition.

The court, which wondered portion astir of the witnesses presented by the petitioners testified successful Hausa Language portion their witnesser statements were made successful English, consequently dismissed the entreaty and upheld that Jafaru Leko was the victor of the poll.

Speaking to NAN connected the result of the appeal, Mr Usman said the determination was a triumph for democracy.

The elder lawyer said that the tribunal was close erstwhile it affirmed the determination of the proceedings tribunal by holding that the petitioners/appellants failed to beryllium their lawsuit some astatine proceedings and connected appeal.

Mr Israel Usman, lawyer to the petitioner, declined to remark connected the development.

He simply said: “Until my lawsuit asks maine to speak, I cannot marque a remark astir the judgment.”

Appeal Court upholds predetermination of Bauchi rep, Jafaru Leko