Kebbi 2014 primaries: Court hears matter against Bagudu, Jan 11

By Vivian Okejeme

Abuja

Justice A. R. Mohammed of a Federal High Court Abuja, yesterday fixed January 11, to hear the suit challenging the 2014, pre-election that brought Abubakar Bagudu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Kebbi State Governor.
The People Democratic Party (PDP), whose candidate, Maj. Gen. Bello Sarkin Rtd, came second in the April 11, 2015 election, is seeking to be declared the authentic winner of the gubernatorial poll.
The party premised its application on the ground that Bagudu was not qualified to run for the election, having been allegedly indicted. It is also challenging the unlawful participation of Bagudu during the Kebbi state gubernatorial election on April 11, 2015.
The PDP claimed that the governor was not eligible to contest the April 11, 2015 election because of alleged false information given in the affidavit of personal particulars Bagudu submitted to Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.
The 1st and second plaintiffs also alleged that the declaration of Bagudu as the governor in INEC’s Form is false.
In the suit, the plaintiffs apart from Gen.Yaki (3rd plaintiff), who scored the second highest votes, also have Mr. Anthony Itanyi (1stplatiff) and Sahabi Sani Sami (2nd plaintiff).
Gov. Abubakar Bagudu, All Progressive Congress (APC) and INEC are the defendants.
When the matter came up for mention yesterday, counsel to the 1st and 2nd Plaintiffs, Mr. Tochukwu Maduka, approached the court on a notice of discontinuance in the matter.
The second plaintiff, Sahabi Sani Sami, informed the court that he could not continue as a plaintiff in the matter, adding he could not get enough evidence against the first defendant (Bagudu).
In a short bench ruling, Justice Mohammed struck out the name of the 2nd plaintiff in the matter and adjourned the matter until Jan.11 for hearing.
It will be recalled that the matter was first brought before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court Abuja on Jan. 21, 2017.
The matter suffered a setback when the All Progressive Congress (APC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Bagudu, all filed a Preliminary Objections challenging the jurisdiction of the FHC on the matter.
They headed to Appeal Court where it upheld the ruling of Justice Ademola in dismissing the application challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.

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