Fresh Twist As Kano Judge Reacts to Nullifying Abia Governor-Elect’s Election
- Justice Muhammad Nasir-Yunusa of the federal high court in Kano state has cleared the air on the rumoured nullification of the election of Abia state governor-elect Alex Otti
- The Kano judge said no such thing happened but acknowledged that the election of the Labour Party candidate in Kano was nullified
- Justice Nasir-Yunusa stated that the petition filed before the court did not include the name of the former bank guru
The federal high court in Kano state has dunked reports that it nullified the gubernatorial candidacy of Abia state governor-elect Alex Otti.
According to Punch, the court acknowledged that it nullified the election of the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 governorship polls in Kano state.
Source: Facebook
It was further gathered that an earlier report confirmed that an application was filed before the court by Mr Ibrahim Haruna-Ibrahim seeking that the court revokes the certificate of return for all the Labour Party candidates declared winners in the governorship polls in all the states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The respondent in the suit was the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Labour Party.
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However, the presiding judge, Muhammad Nasir-Yunusa, confirmed that the Abia state governor-elect, Alex Otti, was not included in the suit before the high court.
He said:
“This court lacks jurisdiction to make an order for the issuance of a certificate of return. They are at liberty to seek redress in the appropriate Division of the court.”
Justice Nasir-Yunusa further noted that INEC was bound by law to request to receive the first respondent's registered members and other political parties 30 days before the primary election in compliance with the statutory provision of section 77(3) of the Electoral Act of 2022.
As stipulated in the section, a political party yet to comply with section 77(2)(3) of the electoral act 2022 cannot be declared the election winner.
Justice Nasir-Yunusa, said:
“The court declared the primary election of LP in Kano as null and void.”
Alex Otti Speaks After Court Sacks Him as Abia Gov-Elect, Gives Insight on His Inauguration
Meanwhile, the Abia state governor-elect, Alex Otti has encouraged people of the state not to panic over his purported sack by a Federal High Court in Kano.
Otti noted that there is no cause for alarm as he described the court's verdict as a "kangaroo judgement."
Speaking on the May 29 inauguration, Otti said arrangements for his swearing-in ceremony are ongoing as planned, and the will of Abians will prevail.
Source: Legit.ng
