By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Nigeria’s House of Representatives majority leader, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa has won re-election to represent Doguwa/Tudun Wada federal constituency of Kano, North West Nigeria amidst ongoing murder trial.
The vocal lawmaker is standing trial on a six-count charge of conspiracy, culpable homicide, causing grievous hurt, arson, inciting public disturbance, and unlawful possession of firearms.
He however went ahead to book a seat in the 360-member House of Representatives expected to be inaugurated June as the current ninth National Assembly comes to a close.
The country’s electoral management body, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Mr Doguwa winner of the supplementary election on Saturday.
The election first held Feb. 25 but was not concluded, arising from intimidation of officials of the electoral commission.
Mr Doguwa polled 41,573 to defeat his major challenger, Yushau Salisu of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), who polled 34,831 votes.
The top parliamentarian is currently on a bail of N500 million granted by the Kano Division of the Federal High Court.
INEC had in March withheld Mr Doguwa’s Certificate of Return while his colleagues elected on Feb. 25 election received theirs.
The commission contended that the declaration of Mr Doguwa as the winner in the February 25 federal parliamentary election was made “under duress,” thereby withdrawing his certificate of return
