From Umar Dankano, Yola.
A high court sitting in Adamawa State, has bar the federal lawmaker representing Adamawa Northern Senatorial district, Senator Ishaku Cliff Abbo, from participating in the 2023 general elections.
Justice Danladi Mohammed ruled in his judgement held Senator Abbo is not entitled to seek re-election since he had been expelled from his ward.
The plaintiffs, two APC members, Abdullahi Suleiman and Yusha’u Usman of Kolere and Sabon Layi Wards, Mubi North, respectively, sued the Senator and sought for an interpretation regarding his status in APC.
Justice Mohammed added that the embattled Senator and APC are bound by the resolution of Mubi North LG Executive dated 7th October, 2022, which expelled him, saying that he is not entitled to enjoy any right or privilege accorded to APC members.
It could be recalled that, Mubi North Local Government APC Executives had on the 7th October, 2022, approved the expulsion of the Senator as recommended by the party’s Disciplinary Committee.
Similarly, the court further restrained APC under which the Senator is seeking re-election from recognising him as its candidate, ordering that he cannot validly be the candidate of the party in the forthcoming 2023 general election.
It also restrained Senator Abbo from parading himself as candidate of the party in the Northern Senatorial District in the forthcoming general election.
The court declared that it is satisfied with the procedure of expelling him (Abbo) from the party, saying that the Senator was accorded opportunity to defend himself but deliberately refused to so do.
Justice Mohammed added that the action of the plaintiffs in suing the Senator is not an internal affair of the party as claimed, and that, they have locus standi to institute the action against him since they are registered members of the party.
Reacting to the judgement, Counsel to the Plaintiffs, Barrister Abubakar Ali, appreciated the court, saying that the ruling will serve as deterrent to erring members of the party who claim to be above the party and the law while counsel to the defendant, Barrister E. O.Odo promised to brief his client about the decision of the court, saying if he agrees, they will test the judgement”.
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