Court voids governor's election
2007-10-21 16:55
Lagos - A Nigerian court has nullified the election of Saidu Usman Dakingari as governor of the north-western state of Kebbi in the second major judicial indictment of April's elections in two weeks.
General elections in April were meant to mark a democratic
watershed for Africa's most populous nation, but fraud and
violence were so widespread that international observers said
they were "not credible".
The Kebbi tribunal ruled on Saturday that Dakingari, a
son-in-law of President Umaru Yar'Adua, was not qualified to run as a candidate for the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) because he was not a party member when it nominated him.
Dakingari defected from an opposition party a few weeks
before the elections and was nominated by the PDP after it
disqualified its original candidate.
"The first respondent was illegally placed on the ballot
paper," Justice Aodover Kakaan was quoted as saying by local media. He ordered a fresh election.
Would remain governor
Dakingari, who is married to one of Yar'Adua's daughters, said he would appeal the decision and would remain governor of the remote, agrarian state in the meantime.
Another court in the central state of Kogi nullified the
election of Ibrahim Idris as governor on October 10 because the
electoral body removed the name of a main opposition candidate
from the ballot.
The April polls were meant to mark the first transfer of
power from one elected president to another, but vote rigging
and violence were so widespread that international observers
said they fell far below basic international standards.
State governors have considerable power in Nigeria and
control about half the nation's oil revenues.
President Yar'Adua is also facing an opposition challenge to his victory. The opposition gave evidence to that tribunal last week including what it said were three different official election results.
Yar'Adua has recognised that the elections were flawed, but said he believes he has the mandate of the Nigerian people. He has promised to let the tribunals do their work without
interference and set up a panel to reform the process before the
next vote in 2011.