8th October, 2015
Femi Adi/Kaduna
The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kaduna Thursday affirmed the election of Barrister Mohammed Musa Soba representing Soba Federal constituency under the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC.
Barrister Soba’s election was challenged by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Barrister Ibrahim Khalid Mustapha at the National Assembly election petition tribunal in a suit number KD/EPT/NA/02/2015.
In the suit, Barrister Mustapha challenged the eligibility of Barrister Mohammed Musa Soba of the APC to contest the election of March 28th, 2015 for Soba Federal Constituency on grounds that he gave false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Mustapha also challenged and argued that Barrister Soba did not resign from his employment with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, before contesting the said election.
He therefore prayed that the tribunal nullify the election and order for a re-run.
But after arguments were heard, the election tribunal, under the chairmanship of Honourable Justice Abdulhamid Mohammed Yakubu, on Thursday dismissed the petition and upheld the election of Barrister Soba on grounds that the petition lacked merit.
In the judgement made available to P.M.NEWS, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Yakubu submitted that Barrister Soba who is the respondent eminently qualified to contest the election of 28th March, 2015 for Soba Federal Constituency.
He also submitted that prayers of the petitioner, Barrister Mustapha to the tribunal for nullification and conduct of fresh election for Soba Federal constituency is hereby refused.
“Declaration of Barrister Mohammed Musa Soba by INEC as the winner of the said election and duly elected is hereby affirmed,” he declared.
Few minutes after the judgement, Barrister Soba’s supporters went wild with jubilation at the court premises.