Governor Alex Otti of Abia State
Judge denies nullifying Abia governorship poll
Justice Muhammad Nasir-Yunusa of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano has clarified the judgement he delivered today in respect of Labour Party candidates.
He said he did not nullify the candidature of the Abia Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti, who contested the election on the platform of the Labour Party( LP) contrary to what is being reported in the media.
The judge , however, said it nullified the election of the Kano LP candidates that contested the 2023 general election.
Recall that Ibrahim Haruna-Ibrahim had filed an application asking the court to revoke and set aside the certificate of return issued to all LP candidates declared winners in Kano and the 35 states of the Federation, including the FCT, Abuja.
However, following the mixed reactions that have trailed the judgement, Justice Nasir-Yunusa affirmed that the candidates in Abia who took part in the just-concluded general elections were not parties in the suit.
The respondents in the suit are LP and the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
The judge said the court declared only the primary election of the Labour Party in Kano State null and void.
Justice Nasir-Yunusa said the candidates who participated in the 2023 general election in Abia were not parties before his court.
“This court lacks jurisdiction to make an order for the issuance of certificate of return. They are at liberty to seek redress in the appropriate division of the court,” he said.
“They are at liberty to seek redress in the appropriate division of the court,” he said
