The election of  Abubakar Musa Abubakar of the Congress For Progressive Change,  CPC,Soba Federal Constituency has been annulled.At its sitting in Kaduna,the National and State Assemblies Elections Petition Tribunal  today nullified the election  and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to conduct a fresh election for Soba Federal Constituency in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Acts 2010.

It was a dramatic finish to the case as the Tribunal presided over by Justice Daniel Kailo upheld the petition brought before it by the PDP candidate in the election, Khalid Ibrahim  who  sensationally challenged the election of Abubakar on the grounds  that the election was conducted by INEC without his knowledge. Khalid told the tribunal that the election originally fixed for the 2nd April 2011 was rescheduled for the 9th April, 2011 and postponed by the first Respondent (INEC) to the 26th April, 2011 and later to the 28th April, 2011 but purportedly held the election on the 9th April, 2011 without his notice.

Because of the confusion in the date, Ibrahim alleged that his supporters did not come out to vote on the 9th of April when the election was conducted. Counsel to the petitioners Yahaya Mahmud (SAN) and that of the Respondents, U. J Kaburuk, Emmanuel B. Kantiok, had at previous sitting argued for and against the petition supported by relevant documents.

While delivering judgment on the petition, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Daniel Kalio ruled in favour of the petitioners, Barrister Ibrahim Khalid Mustapha and thePDP,  and ordered  that a fresh election should be conducted by INEC.