Umar Yusuf Yabo, commonly known as Danmaje, has been removed from his position as a member of the National Assembly representing the Yabo/Shagari federal constituency by the Election Petition Tribunal for Sokoto/Zamfara.
The tribunal, consisting of a panel of three judges led by Justice Ashu A. Ewah, delivered a unanimous verdict, declaring the election of Danmaje as null and void. Additionally, the tribunal ordered Danmaje to pay 500,000 naira in damages to the petitioner.
The panel, consisting of Justice Helen HammanJoda, Justice Ali Changbo, and chaired by Justice Ashu A. Ewah, determined that the elections held by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2023 and the rerun election on February 3, 2024, were marked by wrongdoing, making them inconclusive.
The tribunal instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to arrange and carry out another rerun election in the next 90 days for two affected polling units in Shagari local government area.
Furthermore, INEC has been mandated to revoke the certificate of return that was issued to Danmaje. The tribunal’s ruling requires a fresh election to guarantee that the electoral process is devoid of the identified irregularities.
