Elisha Abbo, the member representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of being responsible for his expulsion from office on Monday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Abbo the victor of the February 25, 2023 parliamentary election, but his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opponent, Amos Yohanna, contested the outcome and went to court. In its decision, the tribunal dismissed Yohanna’s plea for lack of merit.
The PDP candidate sought the Appeal Court through his counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN).
After hearing arguments from parties, the Court of Appeal concurred with Usman that, according to Section 137 of the Electoral Act, 2022, the results tendered plainly demonstrated that there was no conformity with the Electoral Act.
Following that, the court deducted the illegitimate votes from the parties and determined that Yohanna and the PDP had won the election by a majority of lawful votes.
In a decision, the three-member panel chaired by Justice C.E. Nwosu-Iheme directed INEC to issue Yohanna a Certificate of Return as a legitimately elected senatorial district lawmaker.
In his reaction to the court decision, Abbo stated that four other senators who worked against Akpabio’s election as Senate President had been targeted for expulsion from the Red Chamber through the courts.
While speaking to reporters, the legislator particularly listed Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia North as the next target for removal from the Senate.
He said, “I have it from a reliable source that myself and four other senators within the fold of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will be removed from the Senate through rulings from the courts, all because of working against the emergence of Akpabio as President of the 10th Senate.
“I won’t mention the names of all the four other ones targeted but the next in line is Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.”
He was perplexed as to how, with a margin of victory of almost 11,000 votes over his nearest rival, Yohanna Amos Yohanna of the Peoples Democratic Party, the Appeal Court overturned his victory.
Abbo added, “The court’s judgment is strange and the judiciary needs to please remain the last hope of the common man.”
He, however, appealed to his supporters to remain calm, vowing to recontest in 2027.
Comments