Tribunal sacks Kano’s NNPP rep over primary school certificate forgery

The National and State House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Kano has sacked Muktar Yarima, candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), as a member representing Tarauni Federal Constituency.

In a judgment on Thursday, the three-member tribunal ruled that the primary school certificate submitted by Yarima to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to support his qualifications, was forged.

Yarima was declared the winner of the Tarauni Federal Constituency poll after scoring 26,273 votes to defeat Hafizu Kawu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 15,931 votes.

But Kawu, a one-time member of the House of Representatives, seeking re-election, lodged a petition challenging Yarima’s victory on the grounds of certificate forgery.

In his petition, Kawu also submitted that irregularities, including over-voting and non-compliance with the electoral act, marred the election.

The tribunal in the judgment ruled that the NNPP candidate was guilty of certificate forgery.

The court also said that the political party did not have a candidate in the election, adding that all votes cast for Yerima were invalid.

Consequently, the tribunal ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return given to Yarima.