In a significant legal development, the Federal High Court in Kano, presided over by Justice M.N. Yunusa, has nullified the candidature of Abia State Governor-elect, Dr. Alex Otti, and all Labour Party candidates in Abia and Kano States. The court ruled that their emergence as candidates did not comply with the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act.
The judgment, obtained on Friday morning, states that the Labour Party failed to submit its membership register to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within 30 days prior to their primaries. This failure rendered the entire nomination process invalid according to the court.
Justice Yunusa emphasized that a party that does not comply with electoral laws cannot have a valid candidate or be declared the winner of an election. Consequently, the votes credited to the Labour Party candidate were deemed as wasted votes.
The Labour Party had previously raised concerns about a breakaway group within the party, led by acting National Chairman Lamidi Apapa, allegedly seeking to invalidate the party’s electoral victories through legal means. The party’s acting National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, alerted the public to the situation, stating that the breakaway group, with the involvement of Samuel Akingbade Oyelekan, the suspended National Legal Adviser, approached a court in Kano to challenge the party’s elections.
Ifoh further alleged that Akingbade, presenting himself as representing the Labour Party, did not oppose the motion in court, which resulted in the judgment being reserved for Thursday. He urged the judiciary and law enforcement agencies to take note that Akingbade and Apapa’s loyalists no longer represent the party.
This court ruling has significant implications for the political landscape in Abia and Kano States. It nullifies the candidature of Dr. Alex Otti and all Labour Party candidates in these states, indicating that the electoral victories previously achieved by the party are no longer valid. The judgment emphasizes the importance of parties adhering to the electoral laws and procedures set forth by the Electoral Act.
The nullification of the candidatures raises questions about the political future of the Labour Party in the affected states. With their victories invalidated, the party will need to strategize and regroup to participate effectively in future elections. The ruling serves as a reminder to political parties and candidates across the country to ensure strict compliance with electoral regulations to avoid legal repercussions.
As this story develops, it remains to be seen how the Labour Party will respond to the court’s decision and the impact it will have on the political dynamics in Abia and Kano States. The nullification of candidatures in key positions will likely lead to a reevaluation of political strategies and potentially affect the upcoming political landscape in the affected regions.