Rep Sani Yakubu, (APC-Sokoto) has expressed satisfaction with the recent judgment from the State and National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal.
Yakubu, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Saturday in Sokoto stated that the judgment had effectively protected the mandate of his constituents.
The tribunal on Thursday upheld Yakubu’s election as the duly elected member representing Gudu and Tangaza Fderal Constituency.
The three-man tribunal panel, led by Justice Josephine Oyefeso, delivered the ruling, dismissing the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Musa Gidan-Madi, who contested the victory of the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate.
The tribunal cited the petitioners’ failure to substantiate their claims and also imposed a fine of N200,000 on them.
Yakubu, in his remarks, expressed gratitude to the Almighty Allah for his success at the tribunal, pointing out that the 2023 election in his constituency stood out as one of the best nationwide, truly reflecting the will of the voters.
“In the general election, I achieved a historic margin, the first of its kind since the return of democracy in 1999 in our constituency. Unfortunately, it was initially declared inconclusive.
“However, after a second round of counting, I was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“So, the tribunal Judgement not only reaffirmed my victory but also ensured the protection of the electorate’s mandate,” he said.
Regarding the potential appeal of the judgment by the PDP and its candidate, the lawmaker emphasised that it was a democratic norm for dissatisfied parties to seek clarification through the Courts.
“Therefore, I want to assure you that I am confident in the judiciary’s ability to uphold justice,” Yakubu declared.
