Appeal court reserves judgment on Ishaku's election

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December 22, 2015 8:21 AM

Counsel to Governor Darius Ishaku, Mr. Kanu Agabi (SAN) who raised four issues in the appeal has asserted that the petition was not accompanied by valid statements as the respondents claimed that it was the fault of the registry.

Darius Ishaku1

Yesterday in Abuja, The Court of Appeal led by Justice Abdul Aboki reserved judgment in an appeal filed by Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State against the nullification of his electoral victory by a tribunal and subsequent award of the victory to the All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Mrs Aisha Alhassan.

Justice Abdul Aboki said the court would later announce the date for the judgment in the appeal.

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Counsel to Governor Darius Ishaku, Mr. Kanu Agabi (SAN) who raised four issues in the appeal has asserted that the petition was not accompanied by valid statements as the respondents claimed that it was the fault of the registry.

It should be noted that Initially, the tribunal headed by Musa Danladi Abubakar, in a petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Hajiya Aisha Jumai Alhassan held that the purported nomination of the sacked governor by PDP breached Section 85 of the Electoral Act 2010 and ordered the governor to vacate office.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the Tribunal, Governor Darius Ishaku filed an appeal, asking the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the Tribunal which dismissed him from office and handed the governorship to his opponent, Hajia Aisha Jummai Alhassan.

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Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), Counsel to Hajia Aisha Alhassan and her party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), submitted that there was no primary election by the PDP to elect the appellant as its gubernatorial candidate in the election, the submission according to him was affirmed by the Tribunal and he urged the Court of Appeal to follow suit.

The Appellate court also reserved its judgment in the appeal brought before the court by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), the appeal by the PDP as well as the cross appeal by Hajia Aisha Alhassan, after all the parties adopted all their processes.

INEC, duly represented by Joseph Daudu (SAN) told the court that the electoral commission validly approved the sponsorship of Governor Ishaku and that he contested in the election and won on that ground. Daudu urged the court to allow the appeal.

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