Labour Party Challenges Kano Court’s Ruling On Otti’s Candidature, Files Appeal

• The Federal High Court in Kano has nullified the candidacy of Abia State governor-elect, Alex Otti, in the March 18 governorship election.

• The court ruled that the Labour Party’s selection process, including Otti’s emergence as the candidate, did not comply with the requirements of the electoral act.

• As a result, the Labour Party has filed an appeal against the judgement, seeking to overturn it.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the governor-elect of Abia State in the March 18 governorship election, the Labour Party has taken steps to appeal the decision.

The case, with the reference number FHC/KN/CS/107/2023, was brought before the court by Mr. Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim against the Labour Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

EDITOR’S PICKS

• Akpabio Woos Labour Party, NNPP As Senate Presidential Candidate Campaign Heats Up

• APC Urges Court To Dismiss PDP’s Request For Televised Tribunal Proceedings

• NIS’s Fight Against Passport Corruption: 8 Officers Sacked, 80 On Trial

The court concluded that the selection process leading to the emergence of Alex Otti as the Governor-elect of Abia State, along with other Labour Party candidates, did not adhere to the requirements outlined in the 2022 electoral act.

One of the main arguments raised in the lawsuit highlighted the failure of the Labour Party to submit its membership register to INEC at least 30 days prior to their primaries. The court considered this a violation and consequently declared the entire selection process invalid.

As part of the relief sought, the applicant requested the court to nullify the Certificate of Return issued to all Labour Party candidates and instruct INEC to declare the first runner-up as the winner in all constituencies where the Labour Party emerged victorious.

Justice Yunusa stated, “A party that has not complied with the provisions of the electoral act cannot be considered to have a candidate in an election, and thus, cannot be declared the winner. Therefore, the votes attributed to the first defendant [Labour Party] are wasted votes.” However, the judge refrained from ordering the issuance of a Certificate of Return to any individual in Abia State, noting that “the parties that participated in Abia State are not parties before this court.”

FURTHER READING  

• Obasanjo Warns Against Failure To Achieve Nigeria’s Full Potential

• ‘Tinubu Can Govern Nigeria From Russia After Inauguration’ – APC Chieftain

• Atiku Sends Warm Wishes To Governor Adeleke On His Remarkable 63rd Birthday

In response to the ruling, Umeh Kalu, SAN, the legal counsel representing the Labour Party, filed an appeal on May 22, seeking to overturn the judgement of the trial court.

Click to watch our video of the week 

---

Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:

Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.

Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.

Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611