Abia governor-elect Alex Otti has been sacked by a Federal High Court sitting in Kano State.The Court also nullified the candidature of all Labour Party candidates in Kano and Abia States.
Presiding judge Justice M.N Yanusa in his ruling stated that the election of the Labour Party candidates did not follow the 2022 electoral act.
The suit marked FHC/KN/CS/107/2023 was filed by one Mr Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim against the Labour Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“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 winner of an election; this being so, the votes credited to the 1st defendant is a wasted vote,” the judge stated.
He argued that the Labour Party did not submit its membership register to the INEC within the 30 days required before their primaries.
Meanwhile Dr. Otti, has told his supporters not to panic saying that it was Kangaroo ruling that will not stand. Abia Labour Party chairman in his reaction added: “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”.
