Court Dismisses Umar Rabo Claim Give Hamisu Anani Rep Ticket To Challenge Hon Idris Make Seat

Yakubu Busari

The Jos division of the Federal High Court 2, has on Friday, ordered the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to submit the name of Anani Hamisu Muhamnad, as its House of Representative Candidate, for wase Federal Constituency, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice Musa Kurya, said in his judgement, that the plaintiff has satisfied all conditions having scored the highest number of votes during the party’s primary election.

The plaintiff has in an originating summons, in a suit no. FHC/J/CS/49/2018, challenged Umar S. Rabo, the PDP and INEC over exclusion of his name having not submitted same to INEC by the PDP, as 1st,  2nd and 3rd defendant respectively.

However, the court judgement holds that; “the 1st defendant having not scored the highest vote cast at the primary election of Wase Federal Constituency cannot be said that his nomination by the 2nd Defendant as her candidate has followed and met the statutory procedure.”

“I so hold further that he was not validly nominated as a candidate for the 2019 election,” Justice Kurya ruled.

He said: “The party laws provides that a candidate with the highest votes cast at a primary election organised by NEC of a political party to the knowledge of INEC can approach the court for redress if he is excluded by the party.”

Justice Kurya further holds that from available records before him, he was of the views that the plaintiff (Hamisu Anani), has satisfied all conditions having scored the highest votes and was issued with the requisite form CFOO1 and form EC4B, dated 17th October, 2018.

He said it; “qualifies him as eligible to have his name recognized, declared and submitted to INEC by the 2nd Defendant as her candidate for the 2019 general election for Wase Federal Constituency,” he orderd.

The plaintiff counsel Barrister, Badamasi Adam,  said the judge had in his wisdom evaluated all the issues they have raised before the court and resolved them in the plaintiff’s favour.

He added that considering the time frame for the National Assembly elections they; “..will try to make sure that the judgement went to the appropriate authority and to also ask them to make sure they comply with the law so that the plaintiff will be the candidate of the PDP.”

Similarly, the plaintiff Alhaji Anani Hamisu Muhammad said though he won the PDP primary election, but his name was not submitted to INEC by the PDP.

“I was in the court to seek for justice and Alhamdulliah, the justice has been done which I dedicate it to the masses (of Wase).

“I did that because if it is allowed impunity will continue in the country. The court is competent as an institution of the rule of law in this country.

The plaintiff said he expect compliance of the court judgement and order.

“I appeal to the PDP, to obey the rules ofvlaw and submit my name to INEC,” he added.