In a significant and controversial development, the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal has taken a bold step by disqualifying Idris Dankawu from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for allegedly forging his West African School Certificate (WAEC). This certificate was submitted as part of his candidacy for the Kumbotso Federal House of Representatives Constituency in Kano State.
The controversy erupted when Munir Babba Danagudi, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the same election, filed a petition asserting that Dankawu had presented a fraudulent Secondary School Certificate to gain admission into Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic in Kaduna.
In a stunning turn of events, Justice I.P. Chima, presiding over the case, declared, “Idris Dankawu of NNPP has forged his WAEC certificate,” leading to the nullification of the election. The tribunal went further by directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to revoke the Certificate of Return that had previously been granted to Dankawu. Instead, Munir Babba Danagudi was declared the victor of the Kumbotso Federal Constituency poll, which took place on February 25, 2023.
Justice Chima, in delivering the verdict, underlined the tribunal’s commitment to upholding the law, stating, “Having satisfied with the provision of the law, we hereby declare and return Munir Babba Danagudi as the winner of the Kumbotso Federal House of Representatives Election.”
It’s important to note that the ruling concluded by requiring the involved parties to bear their own costs.
This case highlights the lengths to which politicians might go to achieve their goals, even resorting to certificate forgery. Such instances are unfortunately not uncommon in Nigerian politics, raising concerns about corruption among many politicians.
As for whether the judge’s decision was fair, it appears that the tribunal made its ruling based on the evidence presented and in accordance with the law. Whether individuals agree with the decision or not, the judicial process and adherence to the law are fundamental aspects of a fair and just legal system.
