PDP Challenges Abia Governor-Elect’s Claims Over Kano Court Ruling

• The PDP challenges claims made by Abia Governor-elect, Alex Otti regarding the Kano Court ruling which sacked him.

• The court nullified the candidature of all Labour Party candidates in Abia and Kano states.

• The PDP is exploring legal options to recover its mandate despite denying involvement in the case.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged Abia State Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti, over his statement that the Kano Federal High Court judgment that sacked him was a booby trap set for him by the PDP and Abia State Government.

In response, the Abia PDP Vice Chairman/Acting State Publicity Secretary, Hon. Elder Abraham Amah, released a statement saying that they did not institute any case against the Abia governor-elect and the Labour Party in a Federal High Court in Kano.

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The judge, relying on the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act (As Amended), granted the prayer made by Mr Harun Ibrahim, who had filed an application seeking the court to revoke and set aside the certificate of return issued to all LP candidates declared winner in Kano and Abia States.

The party urged Abians to remain calm and peaceful as they await the verdict of the Election Petition Tribunal, expressing confidence that justice would be served at the end.

A Federal High Court in Kano nullified the candidature of Otti, the Abia State Governor-elect, and all the candidates of the Labour Party in Abia and Kano states.

The report was allegedly being sponsored and widely circulated by the PDP and Abia State Government.

According to the suit No FHC/KN/CS/107/2023 filed by Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim against the Labour Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the court ruled that “the failure of the Labour Party to submit its membership register to the INEC within 30 days before their primaries renders the process invalid.”

Therefore, the party that has not complied with the provisions of the electoral act cannot be said to have a candidate in an election and cannot be declared the winner of an election.

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The PDP is exploring legal options that would enable it to recover its mandate. While the party claims that it did not institute the case, it is still aware of the judgment and has mandated its legal team to study the verdict.

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