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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to hear the application filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Sen Aisha Dahiru Ahmed, aka Binani, to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from announcing the winner of the supplementary guber election.
When the matter came up on Tuesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo directed Binani’s lawyers, led by Mohammed Sheriff Esq, to address the court on the issue of jurisdiction within three days.
The judge also refused Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s counsel, Afeez Matomi Esq, from making a submission because he has not been served with the processes.
According to the 1999 Constitution and 2022 Electoral Act, only Election Petition Tribunal has the power to upturn the result of a gubernatorial election already declared by INEC.
She said after her declaration as the winner of the election, INEC usurped the powers of the tribunal by declaring her return null and void.
Ahmed further averred that Fintiri lost the April 15 governorship election and resorted to “fighting and causing public disturbance which led to the beating and manhandling of one of INEC’s staff.”
Hearing of the suit has been adjourned to April 26.