Tribunal Didn’t Order My Sack – Mashi

The member representing Mashi/Dutsi Federal Constituency of
Katsina state in the House of Reps, Mansur Ali Mashi, yesterday
chided media report indicating that he had been sacked by the
election petition tribunal.

Mashi was elected during the 20th May 2017 by-election where he
floored his closest rival and candidate of the opposition PDP,
Nazifi Bello Yusuf.

But dissatisfied with outcome of the poll, Yusuf and his party,
the PDP, approached the tribunal seeking it to declare the return
of Mashi a nullity.

At its ruling yesterday, the National Assembly Election Petition
Tribunal for Katsina State ordered fresh election in 15 polling
units within 90 days.

The tribunal however held that the petitioners failed to prove
over voting in the by-election and hence their request to nullify
the entire election in the constituency could not stand.

The ruling of the tribunal was subjected to different
interpretations with some alluding that the lawmaker had been
sacked.

In a telephone interview with our correspondent, Mashi said “the
judgement is unambiguous and hence ought not have been subjected to
misrepresentation. The tribunal ordered fresh election in 15
polling units.

“Their lordships never ordered the withdrawal of my certificate
of return just as they never asked me to stop parading myself as
the member representing Mashi/Dutsi constituency” he added.

Mashi said he and his party, the ruling APC viewed the verdict
of the tribunal as an act of God noting “we are ready to meet them
at the poll and I have no doubt that we will emerge
victorious”.

The member representing Mashi/Dutsi Federal Constituency of
Katsina state in the House of Reps, Mansur Ali Mashi, yesterday
chided media report indicating that he had been sacked by the
election petition tribunal.

Mashi was elected during the 20th May 2017 by-election where he
floored his closest rival and candidate of the opposition PDP,
Nazifi Bello Yusuf.

But dissatisfied with outcome of the poll, Yusuf and his party,
the PDP, approached the tribunal seeking it to declare the return
of Mashi a nullity.

At its ruling yesterday, the National Assembly Election Petition
Tribunal for Katsina State ordered fresh election in 15 polling
units within 90 days.

The tribunal however held that the petitioners failed to prove
over voting in the by-election and hence their request to nullify
the entire election in the constituency could not stand.

The ruling of the tribunal was subjected to different
interpretations with some alluding that the lawmaker had been
sacked.

In a telephone interview with our correspondent, Mashi said “the
judgement is unambiguous and hence ought not have been subjected to
misrepresentation. The tribunal ordered fresh election in 15
polling units.

“Their lordships never ordered the withdrawal of my certificate
of return just as they never asked me to stop parading myself as
the member representing Mashi/Dutsi constituency” he added.

Mashi said he and his party, the ruling APC viewed the verdict
of the tribunal as an act of God noting “we are ready to meet them
at the poll and I have no doubt that we will emerge
victorious”.