BREAKING: Fresh Intrigue as Court Nullifies Alex Otti’s Candidature, All Labour Party Candidates in Abia, Kano
- Fresh trouble has hit Labour Party as the court in Kano invalidated Alex Otti's candidacy as well as all Labour Party candidates in Abia and Kano states
- On Friday, May 19, Justice M. N. Yunusa of the Federal High Court ruled that their emergence was not in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022
- Reacting to the development, a top Nigerian lawyer, Festus Ogun, maintained the court has no power to sack a candidate who was duly elected
A Federal High Court sitting in Kano state and presided over by Justice M. N. Yunusa has nullified the candidature of the Abia state governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti.
Justice Yunusa, on Friday, May 19, also nullified the candidatures of all those who contested the 2023 general elections under the Labour Party (LP) in Abia and Kano states.
Source: Twitter
Court invalidates Alex Otti's candidature
The court ruled that the emergence of the candidates was not in compliance with the provisions of the 2022 electoral act, The Guardian reported.
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A copy of the judgement delivered by the court was made public on Friday morning.
The suit was filed by Mr Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim against the LP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
It ruled that the failure of the Labour Party to submit its membership register to the INEC within 30 days before their primaries rendered the process null and void, Vanguard report added.
“The party that has not complied with the provisions of the electoral act cannot be said to have candidates in an election and cannot be declared winner of an election.
“This being so, the votes credited to the 1st defendant is a wasted vote,” the Judge ruled.
Will Alex Otti's nullification stand? Nigerian lawyer reacts
Reacting to the development, a prominent Nigerian lawyer, Festus Ogun, said no court has the power to sack the candidate that was duly elected on the grounds that he was not validly nominated.
In a tweet sighted by Legit.ng, the legal luminary said:
"No court can nullify the candidacy of a person duly elected on the ground that he was not validly nominated, after election. Once an election has been conducted, the issue of nomination pending in any court becomes academic and any order arising therefrom will be in vain.
"Should you fail to successfully challenge the nomination of a candidate before the conducted of election, it becomes “otilo”, otiose and academic after the conduct of the election. In fact, save for qualification issues, you cannot raise it at the Tribunal."
Governor Ikpeazu reveals how INEC returning officer favoured Labour Party
In another development, the election of Alex Otti, the governor-elect in Abia state, may face a serious legal battle in a short period of time as Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia state, accused Nnenna Nnannaya-Oti of being biased.
Nnannaya-Oti was the returning officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the March 18 governorship election in Abia state.
Speaking on the election won by the Labour Party in the state, Ikpeazu alleged that Nnannaya-Oti was "verily happy" that she "favoured" Alex Otti's party during the poll.
Alex Otti vows to use Peter Obi’s governance model for Abia, gives reason
Legit.ng reported earlier that the newly elected governor of Abia state, Alex Otti, said his system of governance would adopt the Peter Obi model used in Anambra state.
He stated that the reason for adopting Obi's governance style is to cut government expenditure costs.
Otti, however, stated that in adopting this style of governance, his administration would remain reasonable.
Source: Legit.ng
