Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court in Abuja, has been asked to set aside the nomination of Aminu Kanta, as the House of Representatives candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Babura/Garki federal constituency of Jigawa state, over false Information.
In the originating summons with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1052/2022, the plaintiff, Isa Dogonyaro, through his Counsel, Sunusi Musa, prayed the court for an order disqualifying the defendant from contesting the election.
According to the suit, Aminu Kanta, the 3rd defendant in the matter served as commissioner and Special Adviser in the state from 2015-2022 with the name Ahmed Mohammed.
The plaintiff said in the affidavit in support of the originating summon that the same person contested the party primary under a different name, Aminu Kanta, on 28/05/2022 after resigning as a special adviser in Jigawa state on 16/05/2022 with the name Ahmed Mohammed.
In the suit, in the plaintiff also prayed the court to look into the inconsistencies in his educational qualification which he claimed in the form submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In the affidavit attached to the originating summon, deposed to by the plaintiff, the court was asked to look into the claim that Aminu Kanta (Ahmed Mohammed) finished primary school in 1976 and secondary school in 2018.
Dogonyaro prayed the court to declare him the candidate of the APC having scored the second highest number of votes at the primaries of the party.
He said in the affidavit, “the name with which the 3rd respondent is contesting the election for the seat of member, House of Representatives, Babura/Garki federal constituency of Jigawa state as a candidate of the 2nd Respondent, is ‘Aminu Kanta.
“Aminu Kanta is not synonymous with Ahmed Mohammed.
“The 3rd respondent stated that his former name is ‘Ahmed Mohammed’.
“The 3rd respondent stated that he attended Babura Central Primary School which he finished in 1976.
“The 3rd Respondent further stated that he attended G.S.S. Mador for his secondary school and finished in 2018.
“The 3rd respondent did not support the purported change of name with a deed poll and publication in official gazette. In 2022 when he resigned in order to participate in the Primary Election of the 2nd Respondent (APC) and throughout his tenure his name is “Ahmed Mohammed (AK). The letter of appointment dated 24″ September, 2019 from the office of the Secretary to the State Government appointing the : Respondent as a Special Adviser on Political Matters, wherein he was addressed as Ahmed Mohammed (AK) is hereby attached and marke as Exhibit DY 8. 20.”
“Act 2022, a candidate who has given false information in relation to his Constitutional requirements to contest an election is liable to be disqualified from contesting the said election.”
