June 20, 2021

The seat was vacated by former speaker Mr Abdullahi-Shagali of the All Progressives Congress, APC, whose seat was declared vacant after he failed to attend sitting for 120 days

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Alhaji Usman Baba of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the bye-election for Sabon Gari Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

The seat was vacated by former speaker Mr Abdullahi-Shagali of the All Progressives Congress, APC, whose seat was declared vacant after he failed to attend sitting for 120 days.

The Returning Officer, Dr Mohammed-Nuruddin Musa, who declared the result on Saturday in Zaria, said Baba won the election with 9,113 votes.

He defeated his closest contender, Malam Musa Musa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who got 7, 404 votes.

The returning officer also said that Malam Anas Abdullahi of the ADC had 62 votes; Chindo Ibrahim of ADP,  61 votes while Musa Halilu of PRP secured 305 votes.

The bye-election followed the declaration of the seat vacant by the state House Assembly in April.

This was due to the failure of the lawmaker representing the constituency, Aminu Shagali to participate in legislative activities for more than 120 days.

Abdullahi-Shagali, who, until this development represented Sabongari constituency, was removed as Speaker in August last year and replaced by Yusuf Zailani from Igabi constituency.

The House also directed him to apologise in writing within two weeks for disrupting a sitting of the lawmakers.

Mr Abdullahi-Shagali did not apologise to the house.

The assembly noted that he had not apologised nor participated in its activities for over 120 days and consequently declared his seat vacant. NAN