In a recent ruling, the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal has confirmed that Idris Dankawi of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) submitted a forged West African School Certificate (WAEC) while running for the Kumbotso House of Representatives Federal Constituency.
Munir Babba Danagudi of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dankawi’s opponent, had initiated a petition, alleging that Dankawi forged his Secondary School Certificate to gain admission into Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Kaduna.
The three-member tribunal panel, led by Justice I.P. Chima, has determined that Idris Dankawi of NNPP indeed forged his WAEC certificate, leading to the nullification of the election. Consequently, the Tribunal has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to revoke Dankawi’s Certificate of Return and declare Munir Babba Danagudi as the rightful winner of the Kumbotso Federal Constituency election that occurred on February 25, 2023.
According to SaharaReporters, Justice Chima stated, “Having been satisfied with the provision of the law, we hereby declare and return Munir Babba Danagudi as the winner of the Kumbotso Federal House Representatives Election. All parties bear their own cost.”
This ruling follows a similar decision by the tribunal last month when it ousted Muktar Yarima, an NNPP lawmaker representing Tarauni federal constituency, due to a comparable issue. The tribunal had ruled that Yarima’s primary school certificate, submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to support his qualifications, was also forged.
