Buhari’s ex-aide loses certificate of return to minister’s son

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has withdrawn the certificate of return it initially issued to a former senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Kawu Sumaila, and given same to Shamsuddeen Dambazau, son of the Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau.

The INEC decided to withdraw the certificate in compliance with the judgement of a Federal High Court in Kano on April 18 which disqualified him as the elected lawmaker representing Sumaila/Takai federal constituency of Kano state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Shamsuddeen had approached the court challenging the nomination of Sumaila as APC flagbearer on the ground that the former presidential aide never participated in the House of Representatives primary election.

Issuing the Certificate of Return Monday, INEC National Commissioner, Amina Zakari, said the issuance of the certificate is on the order of the court.

“INEC is a law-abiding organisation and respects the rule of law hence the issuance of the certificate to Alhaji Muhammad Shamsuddeen,’’ Mrs Zakari said.

It was not clear whether Sumaila would appealed the court ruling.

Dambaza, who had sued INEC, APC and Sumaila challenging the nomination of the latter as the candidate of APC, told the court through his counsel Nuraini Jimoh that Sumaila contested for the Kano South senatorial seat and lost to Kabiru Gaya.

Sumaila had indeed contested the Kano South senatorial ticket of the APC. He lost to a serving senator, Kabiru Gaya. Later, the state chapter of APC compensated him with House of Representatives ticket of the Sumaila/Takai federal constituency which is also within the Kano South senatorial district.

The APC eventually won the legislative election.

In its April ruling, the judge ruled that the action of the APC was illegal as the ex-presidential aide did not participate in the APC primary for the House of Representatives.

The Judge, Lewis Allagoa, ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Sumaila.

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