Election Tribunal Sacks Sokoto-Zamfara Rep Member Umar Yusuf Yabo Danmaje

Sokoto State– The National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal for Sokoto and Zamfara States, sitting in Sokoto, has sacked Hon. Umar Yusuf Yabo Danmaje from his position as a member of the House of Representatives representing Yabo/Shagari federal constituency.

The tribunal ordered Danmaje to pay N500,000 as damages to the petitioner as a cost award.

Danmaje, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defeated his closest opponent Abubakar Umar of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with 27,042 to 25,738 after the initial court-ordered rerun in the state.

In a unanimous judgement by the tribunal chairman, Justice Ashu A.Ewah, he declared Danmaje ‘s election null and void.

Other tribunal members include Justice Helen N. Hammanjoda and Justice Ali T. Changbo.

Justice Ewah said the election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2023 and the rerun election on 3rd February 2024 was marred with malpractices and declared inclusive.

The tribunal, however, ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Danmaje and conduct elections in the affected polling units within 90 days.

The election will be conducted in four polling units in the two affected federal constituencies of the state, Yabo and Shagari local government areas.

The four polling units where the tribunal asked INEC to conduct the election are three polling units in Shagari and one in Yabo local government area, respectively.

The polling units are Dagawa Maji Kira, Dagawa Mai Zane, Shiyar Magaji, Kesoji Shiyar Hakimi, Jaredi Maji Kira, and Mazoji, both in the Shagari and Yabo local government areas.

Meanwhile, Danmaje said he would appeal the the judgement of the Tribunal.