Controversial Adamawa North Senator, Ishaku Abbo, has been sacked by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
He is to be replaced by Rev. Amos Yohanna of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The appeallate court said the reverend gentleman is the validly elected lawmaker for the senatorial district.
In his reaction, Abbo said on his verified Facebook page: “The Court Appeal in Abuja just voided my election. The gang up has temporarily worked. I will soon address the press”.
Abbo, it would be recalled had years ago attacked a woman in a sex-toy shop and was roundly condemned by Nigerians. He was subsequently charged to court in Zuba, Abuja.
The three-member panel presided over by Justice C.E. Nwosu-Iheme, with Justices M.I SIRAJO and O.A ADEGBHINDE. in a judgement, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to Yohanna.
Recall that Yohanna and PDP had filed a petition before the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Yola, Adamawa State challenging the return of Abbo.
The tribunal, in its judgement, dismissed Yohanna’s petition for lacking in merit.
Unimpressed with the tribunal’s decision, the PDP’s candidate, through his counsel Johnson Usman, SAN approached the Appeal Court via appeal number: CA/YL/EP/AD/SEN/06/2023 between Rev. Amos Kumai Yohanna and another Vs Ishaku Elisha Cliff and others.
The Court of Appeal, after hearing arguments from parties, agreed with Mr Usman that based on Section 137 of the Electoral Act, 2022, the results tendered clearly showed that there was no compliance with the Electoral Act.
The court, thereafter, deducted the invalid votes from the parties and found that Yohanna and PDP won the election by majority of lawful votes.