Aformer federal lawmaker and social critic, Senator Shehu Sani, has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the volatile state of Faskari and Kankara Local government areas in Katsina State ahead of a rerun election in the federal constituency. 

Senator Sani urged that INEC should put heavy security deployment in place to prevent their staff from being kidnapped during the rerun elections in the local government areas. 

“How rerun election can be held in parts of Bandits infested federal legislative faskari and Kankara Lgs in Katsina State will be left to be seen. Serious security arrangements have to be made to prevent the kidnapping of Inec officials,” the former lawmaker said on X.  

INEC had earlier declared Jamilu Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party the winner of the election but in a ruling by the Election Petition Tribunal which sat in Katsina, the tribunal declared the election inconclusive and INEC was ordered to conduct reelection in 20 polling units of Faskari and Kankara Local Councils.

The Court of Appeal, also, in its ruling delivered by the Presiding Judge, Justice Moore Aseimo A. Adumein upheld the position of the tribunal in declaring the election inconclusive while also surcharging Mr. Jamilu Mohammed a fine of N300,000 to be paid to the APC candidate in the election, Shehu Dalhatu Tafoki.

Shehu Dalhatu Tafoki, who previously held the post of Deputy Speaker in the Katsina State House of Assembly, had contested the House of Representatives election on the APC ticket.

The Appeal Court further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct elections in 20 polling units within 30 days.

Culled from Sahara Reporters