From Olanrewaju Lawal,Birnin Kebbi
A Federal High court in Birnin kebbi, yesterday, nullified the election of Adamu Aliero as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Kebbi Central senatorial district.
The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to substitute Aliero’s name with Haruna Saidu.
Justice Babagana Ashigar, who delivered the judgment, said Aliero was not validly elected in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022. He said the court nullified the election following the primary conducted in the state by PDP in May which was married by irregularities.
He also held that the PDP did not give fair hearing to Haruna Saidu following a petition on allegation of forged signatures.
The court held that he was not served with a copy of the petition brought against him.
The judge said INEC unlawfully excluded the plaintiff’s name (Saidu) from the primary participated by Aliero when he had won the first primary. The judge declared that the primary that produced Aliero was a nullity.
The judgment followed an application by Saidu against Aliero, PDP and INEC.
The judge said Aliero had the right to appeal at the appellate courts if he was not satisfied with his judgment.
“We are elated because, we approached the Court with tears in our faces, but My Lord painfully heard the case, delivered beautiful justice, without fear or favour to any parties…With this judgement, the people of Kebbi Central Senatorial district now know their candidate for PDP. We wish our Lord all the best”, counsel to the plaintiff, Sule O.Usman said.
Counsel to Aliero has said they appeal the judgment.
In another judgment by the same judge, the court invalidated the election of a former Senate leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, as PDP’s candidate for Kebbi North senatorial district.
The court declared the plaintiff, Sani Argungu, as the rightful candidate of PDP for the senatorial race in the district.