By Haruna Usman, Birnin Kebbi
Dust is yet to settle months after the conduct of primary elections of the Kebbi opposition peaples democratic party PDP as one Sani Yahya Noma of same party who was declared winner by INEC officials who monitored the primaries of the federal house of representatives of Argungu/Augie federal constituency had approached the federal high court in Birnin Kebbi to reclaim his mandate.
Noma was reported to have bought the nomination form, took part in the house of representatives primaries and declared then winner of the primaries, but the opposition peoples democratic party submitted to INEC the name of one Garba Haruna who failed to secure ticket during the guber primaries of the PDP in Kebbi state and unlawfully switched to reps without taking part in the reps primaries when it was conducted.
Speaking shortly after the three hours hearing and counter defence, the counsel to the complainant Barrister J.J Usman (SAN) asked the court to return the mandate to his cleint Sani Yahya Noma who participated and won the primaries, he also prayed the court to compel INEC who is also party to the suit to expunge the name of Garba Haruna and replace him with Sani Yahya Noma the winner after citing references and quoting of sections of the amended electoral law, which states that, the winner of a valid primaries can only be replaced with another person after he voluntorily withdraws or dies before the elections otherwise the party and INEC have no option than to submit the name of the winner ” iam asking this honourable court to do justice on the matter by returning the stolen mandate he said.
In his defence, the counsel to the defendant Garba Haruna, Barrister Zakariya (SAN) asked the court to dismiss the case for admitting vie an affidavit that he is not the person, he uses almost three different names he goes by Sani Yahya Noma and Sani N Yahya therefore his conflicting names is enough evidence that, he was not the one who won the primaries “i pray this court to strike out completely the suit against my clients”.
Justice B G Ashigar who presided over the case on Monday had adjourned the case for ruling on the matter at a date which will be comnunicated to both parties.
