Yerima had been declared the winner of the February 25 National Assembly election after polling the highest number of votes.
The National and State House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Kano State has nullified the election of Muktar Umar Yerima of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) as the House of Representatives member representing Tarauni Federal Constituency.
Yerima had been declared the winner of the February 25 National Assembly election after polling the highest number of votes.
However, Hafizu Kawu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had petitioned the election tribunal challenging the victory of Yerima.
The tribunal’s three-man panel, led by Justice I. P. Chima, ruled that Yerima’s victory was invalid.
The panel based its decision on his forged primary school certificate, which was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Delivering the tribunal’s decision, Justice I. P. Chima said a thorough examination of the evidence presented before the panel established that Yerima submitted a forged primary school certificate to the electoral body, INEC.
The judge said the action disqualifies Yerima from being a lawmaker.
In his defence, Yerima had claimed that he legally changed his name but the tribunal dismissed the argument.