Court sacks Abbo, declares PDP’s Yohanna as Adamawa north senator

The court of appeal in Abuja has voided the election of Elisha Abbo as senator representing Adamawa north district.

In a judgment delivered on Monday, the court declared Amos Yohanna, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the senatorial election.

Yohanna had sued Abbo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the tribunal to challenge the outcome of the senatorial election.

In the petition marked EPT/AD/SEN/02/2023, Yohanna argued that Abbo’s election should be invalidated by reasons of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

He averred that Abbo was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes cast.

He added that there was over-voting at various polling units, false entries, alteration and cancellation of votes at several polling units.

The PDP candidate said some of the alterations and cancellations were not signed by the presiding officers of the polling units.

Yohanna prayed the tribunal to nullify Abbo’s election and declare him as the duly elected senator for Adamawa north.

However, the three-member panel of the tribunal dismissed the petition.

Not satisfied, Yohanna appealed the tribunal’s decision.

The court of appeal in its judgment voided the verdict of the tribunal and upheld the appeal of Yohanna.