- Kamil Opeyemi
The embattled Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, Hassan Doguwa, has more battles to contend with apart from his murder as the Independent National Electoral Commission has removed his name from the list of winner in the last National Assembly elections.
Doguwa was arrested after he was accused of leading hoodlums to burn down a campaign office of the New Nigerian Peoples Party where some persons were also burnt.
The lawmaker was arrested and charged to court last week. He was however granted bail on Monday in the sum of N500m.
However, as INEC began issuance of Certificates of Return to winners in the last National Assembly elections, his name has disappeared from the list.
INEC written on its list saying Doguwa’s declaration as the winner was “made under duress.”
Section 65 (1) of the 2022 Electoral Act empowers INEC to review the declaration made by a returning officer under duress.
INEC had declared Doguwa as the winner of the Doguwa/Tudun Wada federal constituency of Kano in the February 25 elections.
Doguwa had scored 39,732 votes to defeat Salisu Abdullahi, candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), who polled 34,798 votes.
However, as of Tuesday morning, Doguwa’s name was missing from the list of elected house of representatives members released by INEC.
He was said to have also threatened many people in his constituency prior the election that anyone who voted for any other party other than the APC would be dealt with.
The NNPP had accused Doguwa of personally leading the hoodlums who set the part office ablaze leading to the death of some members.