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MIJINYAWA BABA- AGAIE MINNA

The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressive Congress (APC), smuggled unsigned ballot papers to declare the former governor Abubakar Sani Bello as senator at the February 25, National Assembly in the Niger North Senatorial district.. This was disclosed by the Senatorial candidate under the platform of the People Democratic party (PDP) Alhaji Shehu Abdullahi shortly after he testified at the National Assembly Elections petition Tribunal (EPT) sitting in Minna.He stated that he petitioned the both the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), the rulling All Progressive Congress (APC) and Abubakar Sani Bello to challenge the conduct of the February 25 National Assembly Election at the Tribunal.He explained that over thirty thousands unsigned and unstamped ballot papers were thum printed by the INEC during the condut of the election that declare Abubakar Sani Bello as the senator which he said was his reason of approaching the tribunal to nulify his election and to declare him the rightful winner of the election.He said in his petition he told the tribunal that he was elected by the majority votes in accordance to the electoral act stating that, the tribunal should nulify the election and return him as the rightful winner of the February 25 National Assembly Elections as Senator of Niger North Senatorial district.According to him, going by the electoral act, he was duly elected by the majority of voters of his Constituencies adding that he approached the tribunal with all the necessary evidences to nulify the election and return him as the elected senator of the Northern Senatorial district of Niger State.” The invalid result sheets which intentionally the Independent Electoral Commission and All Progressive Congress and the contestant used and collate as well as compute results to return him as the winner of the election is wrong.”That was our reason to approached the court to challenge the decision of INEC. There were almost about twenty seven to thirty thousand votes that were put in the result sheet.” And these results were not signed. The result were not stampped. And any result sheet that does not carry INEC stamp and is not sign is invalid. In this case, INEC connived with the APC and put it. So that is why we approached the court” he told Journalists in an interview after the sitting of the tribunal Wednesday.

Alhaji Shehu Abdullahi said he was optimistic that the tribunal will unanimously declare him as the rightful winner of the February 25 National Assembly Elections.” My expectations from the tribunal is nothing but victory from the decision of the tribunal going by the electoral act.” Because in my petition, I have presented all the necessary facts and evidences to the tribunal and by the grace of Allah victory will be on my side.” he asserted.Meanwhile, the counsel to both all the respondents told the panel of the tribunal led by Justice Angela Otaluka that they will not present any witnesses as they told the tribunal to give a date for them to respond through a written address to close their case.While adjourning the case, Justice Angela Otaluka then adjourned to 3rd July 2023 for all the counsels to present their written addresses to the tribunal.