Fate of Jigawa Rep Member on the Balance Over Alleged Certificate Forgery

POLITICS DIGEST– The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the March 14, 2020 by-election into the Babura/Garki Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, Mr. Nasiru Garba Dantiye, wants the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to disqualify Hon. Musa Muhammad Adamu, and declare him winner of the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had returned Adamu as the elected lawmaker to represent the Constituency, after declaring him winner of the March 20 poll.

The by-election followed the death of the member representing the constituency, who

was Adamu’s father.

 Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu is billed to deliver judgement on the case tomorrow (Tuesday), Politics Digest has gathered.

It was learnt that Dantiye, had prior to the election, approached the High

Court, praying for declaration that the APC candidate was not qualified to contest the election because he presented false information and forged document to INEC, in support of his particulars to contest the election.

Dantiye and PDP alleged that the Senior Secondary School Certificate attached to the nomination form did not belong to Adamu, as the name written on the statement of result is Mohammed Musa Adam not Musa Muhammad Adamu.

It was also alleged that an affidavit purported to have been sworn at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, was forged as it did not emanates from the

FCT High Court.

Again, Mr. Dantiye also alleged that the statutory declaration of Age purported to have been sworn by the father of Hon Musa Adamu before the FCT High Court is also forged.

Politics Digest, also gathered that another issue before the Federal High Court, presided by Justice Ojukwu is the allegation that Hon. Adamu presented a false

information to INEC in his form when he stated that he has resigned

from his work on 31st December, 2019, while the resignation letter he

attached, clearly indicates that his resignation took effect from 31st January, 2020.

A legal expert told Politics Digest, that Dantiye and Adamu’s case is similar to the case of the PDP & 2 Others V. Degi-Eremienyo & 4 Others, in which the Supreme Court disqualified the APC Deputy Gubernatorial candidate for the recently conducted election

in Bayelsa State.

“If the High Court find that true to the allegation of the PDP candidate, that the APC candidate presented false information to INEC

to enable him contest the election, the Court will have to make an

order disqualifying the APC candidate from the contest.

“This will mean that all the vote cast in favour of the APC during the

election was wasted vote and the PDP candidate who is the 1st Plaintiff in the case, may be declared the winner of the said election,” the expert said.