Just In : APC Loses As Appeal Court In Abuja Nullifies House Speaker’s Election
The Abuja Court of Appeal has invalidated the election of Hon Yusuf Dahiru Liman from the All Progressives Congress (APC), who represents Makera constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly. The court has ordered a re-run in five polling units.
Earlier, Hon Solomon Nuhu Katuka, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, had filed a petition challenging the election of the APC speaker, Hon Yusuf Dahiru Liman, citing gross irregularities and asserting that he had won the election
The tribunal had initially nullified Liman’s election on September 30, 2023, and called for a rerun in 42 polling units, including 37 PUs in Makera ward, 2 PUs in Barnawa ward, 1 PU in Kakuri Gwari ward, 1 PU in Television ward, and 1 PU in Kakuri Hausa ward.
Not satisfied with the tribunal’s decision, the APC, Dahiru Liman, and INEC filed an appeal against the judgement and a cross-appeal seeking an outright declaration.
However, the Abuja Appeal Court, in a judgment delivered by Justice O. O Adejumo, Justice A. O Oyetula, and Justice P. An Obiora on November 24, 2023, dismissed the appeal, removing the Speaker and ordering a rerun in five polling units: Barnawa ward PU 005 and 009, Kakuri Gwari PU 006, Television ward PU 022, and Kakuri Hausa ward PU 045.
The final vote count now stands at APC 17,470 and PDP 17,088. The court ruled that the election was nullified based on the margin of lead, which was 382, less than the number of PVCs collected in the specified polling units