By Becky Usman

In a recent ruling, the Court of Appeal in Abuja reversed the National and State Houses of Assembly Tribunal’s decision, which nullified the election of Umar Mukhtari Zakari from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for Tarauni Federal Constituency in Kano State. The three-member panel, led by Justice Obande Ogbuinya, sided with Zakari and NNPP’s counsel, Mahmud Magaji (SAN), stating that the tribunal had made a legal error in its verdict. The tribunal’s allegation of Zakari forging his credentials was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which found the petitioners, led by Ibrahim Hafiz Kawu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), failed to substantiate their claim. Zakari’s victory on February 25 was challenged by Kawu, who accused him of presenting a allegedly forged Housawa Special Primary School certificate with the name “Muktar Umar” to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Court of Appeal concluded that the petitioners did not provide sufficient evidence to challenge Zakari’s identity and confirmed his election while setting aside the tribunal’s decision.