The Federal Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna has reserved for judgement an appeal brought before it by a member of the House of Representatives representing Mashi/Dutsi Federal Constituency of Katsina state, Hon. Mansir Aliyu Mashi and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The judgement which is likely to be delivered within the next 10 days will determine the stay or otherwise of the federal lawmaker in the House of Representatives.
Election Petition Tribunal which sat in Katsina after the by-election had nullified the election of Hon. Mansir Aliyu Mashi on the ground that election was marred with irregularities, ranging from ballot box snatching, failure of election to hold in some polling units among others and ordered fresh election in some constituencies.
Shortly after the hearing and subsequent reservation of the judgement on Monday, counsel to one of the respondents, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate, Hon Nazif Bello Yusuf, Barrister Napoleon Ibenana said, the appellants and the respondents have proven their case and presented evidences before the court and that he is hopeful that, the Appeal Court will confirm their earlier judgement of the tribunal, which nullified the election of PDP’s Hon. Mashi.
Also reacting to the case, Chairman of the PDP in Katsina State, which is one of the respondents in the case, Alhaji Salisu Yusuf Majigiri said they are hopeful that the Appeal Court will uphold the judgement of the tribunal.
He said, evidences they tendered before the court were undeniable. "We have presented evidences of ballot snatching by members of the ruling party, including public office holders during the elections. They themselves know that, with the evidences against them, victory is ours"
Meanwhile, a source in the court told our Correspondent that, the judgement is likely to be delivered before or by next Friday.