The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed the appeal filed by Prof. Mukhtar Bunza, challenging the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Ibrahim Mohammed in the February 25, 2023 National Assembly elections.
The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State in its earlier judgment given on September 12, 2023 dismissed Mukhtar and the All Progressives Congress petitions challenging the victory of Ibrahim and the Peoples Democratic Party. The tribunal dismissed Muhktar’s petitions for lack of merit.
Not satisfied with the ruling of the tribunal, Mukhtar and the APC filed their appeals challenging the victory of Ibrahim stating incidences of over-voting and failure to use bvas.
Result of the election showed that Ibrahim secured 50,781 votes, while Muhktar had 37,478 votes.
The Court of Appeal however resolved the issue of failure to use bvas with the 15 witnesses provided testifying that bvas was in fact used. It also described the issue of over-voting as a mere waste of the courts time as the petitioners failed to provide sufficient evidence on the matter.
Delivering its judgement in Abuja on the 31st of October 2023, the panel of the Court allowed the appeal and affirmed Ibrahim’s election.
