A Federal High Court refused to overturn Dr Alex Otti’s election as governor of Abia, IgbereTV reports.
The court, however, declared that the election of Kano Labour Party, LP, candidates who ran in the 2023 General Election was invalid.
Remember that a plaintiff, Mr Ibrahim Haruna-Ibrahim, had filed a complaint with the court seeking it to annul and set aside the certificate of return issued to all LP candidates proclaimed winners in Kano and the 35 states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja.
The suit’s respondents are LP and the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC.
Justice Muhammad Nasir-Yunusa stated that the candidates who ran in Abia’s general election in 2023 were not parties before his court.
“This court lacks jurisdiction to issue an order for a certificate of return.” They may seek remedies in the relevant division of the court,” he stated.
He stated that INEC was required by section 77(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 to insist on receiving the registered members of the first respondent and other political parties 30 days before the primary election.
According to the law, a party that has not complied with law 77(2)(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 cannot be deemed the election victor.
“The court declared the LP Kano primary election null and void,” Nasir-Yunusa added.
