24th November, 2023
By Victoria Oluwayemi
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has sacked Abubakar Suleiman, the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, from his position representing the Ningi Central Constituency in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The appellate court in its judgment on Friday, ordered for a rerun in 10 polling units in the constituency.
Suleiman, formerly the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, was initially declared the victor by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Returning Officer, Professor Shuaibu Muhammad, following the election held on March 18th.
Suleiman, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, secured victory with 16,866 votes, surpassing his closest rival, Khalid Abdulmalik-Ningi of the All Progressives Congress, who garnered 15,065 votes. Danlami Bara’u, the candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, received 4,886 votes.
Unsatisfied with the Tribunal’s decision, Abdulmalik-Ningi proceeded to the Court of Appeal to challenge the ruling.
In its judgment, the three-man panel of the appellate court overturned the Tribunal’s decision, ordering a rerun.
Responding to the judgment, Suleiman labeled it a minor setback in his political journey, expressing readiness for the rerun election to further solidify his lead.