Majigiri’s Triumph Over Lado’s Political Tsunami

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

All contentions surrounding the February 25 House of Representatives election in Mashi/Dutsi Federal Constituency was finally laid to rest on August 10, 2023 following the declaration of Hon. Salisu Yusuf Majigiri by the Supreme Court as the duly elected member of the constituency. Majigiri, who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), according to the result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), scored 27,387 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mansir Ali of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 20,596 votes.

But one of the PDP aspirants, Hon. Nazifi Bello Yusuf, challenged the declaration of Majigiri by INEC as the winner of the poll at the Federal High Court sitting in Katsina, the Katsina State capital. The complainant asked the court to annul Majigiri’s victory on the ground that he did not participate in the party’s primary, proclaiming himself as the substantive candidate of the party in the May 22 primary election and the court ruled in his favour.

Miffed by the ruling of the Katsina Federal High Court, Majigiri appealed the judgement at the Court of Appeal in Kaduna but the judgement was also against him. He later approached the Supreme Court challenging the judgement of the appellate court. At the Supreme Court, Majigiri succeeded over the pre-election matter because the Nigerian apex court struck out Yusuf’s suit against him on the grounds that it was filed outside the prescribed period of time as provided for in section 285 (9) of the 1999 constitution.

The five-man panel, presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, further ordered INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return given to Yusuf in consequence of the judgement of the Federal High Court. He said: “The judgement of the trial court as affirmed by the lower court was set aside for lack of jurisdiction on the part of the trial Federal High Court to entertain the matter having been filed outside the prescribed period of time as provided by Section 285(9) of the constitution.”

The apex court also directed the nation’s electoral umpire to issue a Certificate of Return to the appellant, Majigiri, as the valid winner of the election of Dutsi/Mashi Federal Constituency for House of Representatives.

A cost of N10,000,000 was awarded by the Supreme Court against the counsel to Yusuf and the PDP for making futile attempts to deny the conduct of the second primary before the court.

Nonetheless, Yusuf, Yusuf Sule Shabeji and Haruna Garba participated in the first primary which was conducted on May 22, 2023 for the constituency where Shabeji won the party’s ticket for the general election.

But Shabeji later withdrew his candidacy for the poll through a letter he personally signed and addressed to the national headquarters of the PDP. In the letter, sighted by THISDAY, Shabeji said he voluntarily withdrew from the Mashi/Dutsi Federal Constituency hitherto race. Shabeji’s voluntary withdrawal for the secondary election created a vacuum, which paved the way for the PDP to conduct a fresh primary for the constituency on July 2, 2022 in reference to section 33 of the nation’s Electoral Act.

In the rerun primary, which was supervised by INEC officials and security agencies, it was only Majigiri that contested as the party’s sole candidate and polled all the entire 65 votes cast by the PDP delegates. Political pundits therefore wondered why Yusuf, who did not participate in the second primary election, could approach the court to seek redress in an exercise he wasn’t party to four months after.

His litigation against Majigiri, who brought him into politics by appointing him as his senior legislative aide (SLA) while in the House of Representatives in 2007, was alleged to have been orchestrated by his newly anointed political godfather, Senator Yakubu Lado.

Lado, who could not actualise his aged-long dream of being the governor of Katsina State in the last governorship election over his seemingly self-inflicted problems or squabbles that had split the state PDP into two factions, is busy working against some bigwigs of the party.But with the failure of Lado’s purported aim of ousting the democratically-elected Majigiri in order to replace him with his newly-born political son (Yusuf) who hails from Mashi, analysts said there is  palpable confusion and anxiety in his political camp.

Political commentators further argued that there is anxiety in Lado’s camp over the victory of Majigiri at the Supreme Court because those involved in the struggle for his removal were allegedly handsomely rewarded to silence the truth with lies, blackmails and intimidations.

Basking in the euphoria of his victory at the Supreme Court, Majigiri last weekend embarked on a solidarity tour to Mashi and Dutsi Local Government Areas where he was received by hundreds of supporters who trekked for over two kilometres to welcome.

Addressing the large crowds who followed his motorcade from the outskirts of Mashi to the main town, Majigiri promised better representation for Mashi/Dutsi Federal Constituency through people-oriented policies and programmes that will alleviate the plights of the constituents.

Majigiri, who represented the constituency between 2007 to 2011, said: “See the crowd, people have high hopes for me for better representation. Residents of Mashi/Dutsi should expect better representation ever in the history of the constituency by the special grace of God.

“There are many areas to be touched, but I am sure with good representation, every sector will be touched accordingly, and that is my priority. We thank the Supreme Court for standing firmly against injustice.”

Majigiri, who was visibly overwhelmed by the judgement, proceeded to Dutsi town amidst jubilation by residents who chanted solidarity songs. In Dutsi, the lawmaker also promised to bring developmental projects to the constituency for the betterment of the citizens.

Indeed, there’s going to be a pragmatic and paradigm shift in Mashi/Dutsi Federal Constituency because the constituents shall witness a radical different, people oriented and purpose-driven legislative representation with Majigiri in the Green Chamber.

One of his supporters said: “Regular interface with constituents is a veritable innovation contained in Majigiri’s manifesto. Periodic town hall meetings shall be convened. This meeting shall afford him the ample opportunity to render account of his stewardship in the Green Chamber as well receive feedback from constituents.

“This feedback will be transmitted as inputs into the national work plan and reflected in the annual budget. All strata of the constituency namely, faith-based organisation, allied community, trade organisations, political class, youth and women shall participate in this interaction.

“As a vibrant and promise-fulfilling politician, Majigiri will ensure that young men and women are carried along in the scheme of things. Gone shall be the days when the youths of the constituency are excluded from holding positions of authority.

“Gone shall also be the days when monies meant for constituency projects are diverted for personal enrichment. Also, the era of certain areas and persons in the constituency being denied their dues because they lack super stakeholders to speak for them is over. Things will now be shared equitably under Majigiri.”

There are three words that best describe the factors responsible for Majigiri political ascendancy: time, chance and opportunity. These factors have brought the lawmaker closer to the people, particularly rural dwellers in his constituency.

These notable appurtenances about the prolific son of the Majigiri community in Mashi Local Government Area of the state who practises politics without bitterness, distinguished him among his peers in the ancient political game.

As a knowledgeable politician with requisite political skills that are anchored on democratic principles and rule of law, Majigiri believes that he who laughs last, laughs best, hence his triumphant return to the Green Chamber despite efforts to besmirch his political reputation.

Despite Lado’s political tsunami against him, Majigiri increasingly appears to be a shining star in a dark sky full of influential supporters and political gladiators such as the former governor of the state, Ibrahim Shehu Shema. Having triumphed over the fictitious stumbling blocks and litigation, Majigiri is now set to unveil a development master plan for his constituents.