A Federal High Court in Kano State nullified the candidature of the Abia State Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti on Friday.
The court presided over by Justice M N Yunusa also nullified the candidatures of all those who contested the 2023 general elections under the Labour Party (LP) in Abia and Kano States.
The court ruled that the emergence of the candidates was not in compliance with the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act.
A copy of the judgement delivered by the court was made public on Friday morning.
The Court in Suit No FHC/KN/CS/107/2023 was filed by Mr Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim against the LP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
It 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 null and void.
“The party that has not complied with the provisions of the electoral act cannot be said to have candidates in an election and cannot be declared winner of an election.
Labour Party reacts to judgement
The Labour Party has reacted to the pronouncement of a Federal High Court, Kano nullifying the election of the Abia State Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti.
According to the court, the emergence of Otti and other affected candidates was not in compliance with the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act.
When Daily Post contacted the Labour Party Chairman in Abia State, Hon. Ceekay Igara, he said the court’s “pronouncement is laughable.”
According to him, the decision of the court would have no significance in the coming inauguration of the governor-elect.
Igara said only the election tribunal is bequeathed the power to sack a democratically elected person.
He said, “That court pronouncement is laughable. Everybody should go about their normal activities. It is only the tribunal that can remove Alex Otti.
“It is not just a court that will remove someone who was duly elected. In fact I am going to gear up activities for the inauguration.”
