Just in: Otti, LP dismiss court judgment nullifying Abia gov election results

Otti, LP dismiss court judgment nullifying Abia, Kano election results

A Federal High Court in Kano, presided over by Justice M N Yunusa, has nullified the candidature of the Abia State Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti, and all the candidates of the Labour Party in Abia and Kano states.

But Otti and the LP dismissed the judgement, saying it could not stand as they continue with preparations for the May 29 inauguration in Abia.

The court in suit No FHC/KN/CS/107/2023 filed by Mr Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim against the Labour Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission ruled that the failure of the Labour Party to submit its membership register to the INEC within 30 days before their primaries rendered the process invalid.

“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 said.

Dr Otti has urged Abians not to panic over the ruling, saying there is no cause for alarm over the kangaroo judgement.

He said in Abia that arrangements for his swearing-in on May 29 were on course, adding that no one could truncate the will of Abians.