October 16, (THEWILL) – The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has voided the election of the lawmaker representing Adamawa North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Ishaku Abbo.
A three-member panel, presided over by Justice C.E. Nwosu-Iheme, in a judgement, declared Rev Amos Yohanna, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the February 25 Senatorial District Election for Adamawa North.
The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to issue a Certificate of Return to Rev. Yohanna.
The ruling followed an appeal filed against the judgement of the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Yola, Adamawa, which earlier upheld the Election of Senator Abbo.
Yohanna had approached the tribunal to challenge the election of Senator Abbo as the winner of the Adamawa North senatorial election.
In his petition marked, EPT/AD/SEN/02/2023, Yohanna had alleged that the election of Abbo was invalid, characterised by corrupt practices and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
Yohanna also alleged cases of over-voting at various polling units, false entries, alteration and cancellation of votes at several polling units among others.
He said some of the cancellations were not signed by the presiding officers of the polling units, and based on these he prayed the tribunal to set aside the election of Senator Abbo.
The tribunal dismissed Yohanna’s petition and upheld the election victory of Senator Abbo.
Dissatisfied with the tribunal’s decision, the PDP’s candidate approached the Appeal Court through his counsel Johnson Usman (SAN).
In a judgment on Monday, the appellate court upheld the argument of Yohanna. After deducting the invalid votes, the court declared Yohanna the authentic winner of the senatorial election held in Adamawa North
Confirming the ruling in a post on Facebook, Senator Abbo said he will address the press shortly.
“The Appeal Court in Abuja just voided my election. The gang up have temporarily worked. I will soon address the press”, he said.
