Political News in Nigeria Today
Again, Binani drags INEC to Court over cancelled declaration
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for governor of Adamawa, Aisha Dahiru, often known as “Binani,” has once more sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Her election as the governor of Adamawa in the March 18 governorship election was later declared invalid by INEC, according to an earlier report from ENIGERIA.
Binani presented the new lawsuit to Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court in Abuja while being represented by her attorney, Michael Aondoaka, SAN.
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), INEC, and its candidate, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, were listed as the first, second, and third respondents in the ex-parte motion with the reference FHC/ABJ/CS/935/2023, respectively.
Binani seeks a judicial review of INEC’s decision to reverse her initial announcement as the winner of the election by the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari.
During the hearing on Monday, Aondoaka argued that the election petition tribunal held the authority to determine his client’s fate, citing Section 149 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
He expressed concern that INEC’s decision would deprive Binani of the provisions under Section 285(6), which allows 180 days for the resolution of her petition filed before the tribunal on May 6.
Aondoaka informed the court that a similar suit had been previously filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo, who directed Binani to approach the tribunal for an election-related matter.
Thus, Aondoaka requested a review of INEC’s action and provided an undertaking to demonstrate that the present suit was not frivolous. The undertaking assured that they were prepared to bear any costs if the court found the case to be frivolous.
Justice Okorowo adjourned the matter for ruling after listening to Aondoaka’s arguments.
Binani had withdrawn a previous suit before Justice Ekwo on April 26 following Governor Fintiri’s declaration as the winner of the governorship poll. Binani’s counsel, Mohammed Sheriff, had filed a notice of discontinuance and requested the court to strike out the case.
However, Justice Ekwo reminded Sheriff of the court’s earlier order, requiring him to address whether the court had jurisdiction over the case.
The judge decided to dismiss the matter, after Sheriff failed to comply with the order.
