A Nigerian lawmaker has been relieved of his duties and also banned for life from contesting for elections making it the first case in the history of Nigeria.
Mr Vincent Bulus
According to The Tribune, the National and State House of Assembly Election Tribunal for Plateau State, has nullified the election of a member of the state House of Assembly representing Langtang South, Vincent Bulus. The tribunal also banned the lawmaker from contesting for any election for life.
Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the April 11 House of Assembly Election. Jackson Danladi, had filed a petition before the Tribunal challenging the victory of Bulus in the election, alleging that the lawmaker was an ex-convict.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice O. Akeredolu, who delivered the judgement, said the respondent was not qualified to contest the election having been convicted of an offence in line with Section 107(1)(d) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
"The respondent, having been convicted of an offence involving fraud and dishonesty by a court of law, was not qualified to contest the election into the Plateau State House of Assembly to represent Langtang South constituency.
That the election and return of the first respondent as member of Plateau State House of Assembly to represent Langtang South is a nullify," the justice stated.
However, the tribunal, while observing that the petitioner obtained the second highest number of votes, held that a fresh election should be conducted into the constituency.