Sitting today at the Ilorin Division of the Court of Appeal over the Patigi Constituency Bye Election held on March 14th 2020 between Adam Rufai Ahmed of APC and Mohammed Salihu Yahaya of PDP,
the Chairman of the Appeal, Justice HD Jimba declared Hon. Adam Rufai Ahmed the winner.
Earlier before now, the Election Tribunal in ilorin had declared Mohammed Salihu Yahaya of PDP as the winner of the PATIGI Constituency Bye Election on the ground that APC’s candidate names in his primary school testimonial (as written on the testimonial-Ahmed Rufai Adama) defers from the one in the secondary School certificate ( as written in the certificate-Ahmed R. Adam).
In a three man panel of Judges, Justice HD. Jimba ruled that the Election Tribunal failed to recognized the attached Sworn Oath of the appellant stating that Adam Rufai Ahmed is the legitimate owner and holder of the said certificates under the law. The Chairman cited the Supreme Court Judgement of Atiku vs Buhari and APC in a similar case.
The Chairman therefore nullified and struck out the earlier Judgment of Election Tribunal that declared Mohammed Salihu Yahaya of PDP winner and restored Hon. Adam Rufai Ahmed of APC as the duly elected member representing Patigi Constituency at the Kwara State House of Assembly in the Bye Election of Patigi Constituency held on March 14th 2020. The Chairman also ruled and directed Mohammed Salihu Yahaya and his party, PDP to pay One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00) each as damage fee to the appellant.
The Judges however, struck out two other appeals filed by APC and INEC on the ground of incompetency, abuse of Court’s processes and a waste of the Court’s precious time.
Congratulations To Hon. Adam Rufai Ahmed, APC and the good people of Patigi LGA.