Court Nullifies 26-Year-Old Kwara Female Lawmaker’s Election, Orders Rerun

The election of the 26-year-old lawmaker representing Owode-Onire constituency of Kwara State, Miss Rukayat Shittu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was on Saturday, nullified by the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, the State capital.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Abdullahi Yinusa Magaji, had filed a petition over Shittu’s victory.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC were respondents in the case.

In the lead judgement delivered by Justice Ademola Enikuomehin, a member of the three-man tribunal, a rerun was ordered in five polling units.

According to the judge, “The petitioners failed in 12 among the contested polling units while five have been proved. The results so far released are hereby cancelled and the election inconclusive.

“It is my belief that the election of the five units is not substantial enough to void the election of 66 other polling units.

“In sum, the petition succeeded in parts and in consequence. I hereby order a rerun of the election in the above polling units to be conducted within 90 days.”

• Kazeem Badmus