Kano PDP gov’ship tussle: Abacha, Wali, Bello know fate Thursday

A federal high court in Kano has fixed Thursday for judgment on the battle for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket in the state. 

Daily Trust reports that the trio of Mohammad Sani Abacha, Sadiq Aminu Wali and Jaafar Sani Bello have been battling to emerge as the rightful flagbearer of the party in Kano following contentious primary elections. 

At the resumed hearing on Monday, the trio were informed through their counsels that the ruling earlier slated for the day would be delivered via Zoom on Thursday. 

Abacha had, via originating summons, approached the court, praying it to declare him winner of the party’s primary election conducted on 25th May, 2022. 

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He also prayed the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), its officers, agents and privies from further recognising Sadiq Aminu Wali or any other person as gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Kano for 2023 polls. 

INEC had recognised and published the name of Sadiq Aminu Wali as the governorship candidate of Kano PDP following the submission of Wali’s name by the national headquarters of the party. 

However, while Abacha is contesting the ticket at the court, another candidate, Jafar Sani Bello instituted a fresh suit challenging both Mohammed Abacha and Sadiq Wali on alleged grounds of qualification in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian constitution, Electoral Act and PDP constitution.

He had thereafter gotten the leave of the court to join Wali and others in the suit. 

Dissatisfied with the court’s decision to grant leave for Bello to join him in the suit, Wali approached the Court of Appeal asking it to nullify the federal high court ruling. 

The Court of Appeal consequently ruled that the federal high court lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter, as such Wali should not be joined as party in the suit.

When the case resumed hearing at the Federal High Court on 8th December 2022, the trial Judge fixed the 19th December for ruling based on the Court of Appeal judgement.