By Habib Sani Galadima
The Court of Appeal in Kano has reversed the High Court’s recognition of Muhammad Abacha as the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate for governor in Kano state.
In consequence, the appellate court ruled that Sadiq Wali, who was previously recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), remains the valid PDP candidate for governor in Kano.
In a unanimous decision read by Justice Usman Musale, the court ruled that the law is clear that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) of a party can conduct the gubernatorial primary elections of a party, and since Abacha did not participate in the primary election conducted by the NEC that produced Wali, he lacked standing to challenge the primary.
The Citizen Reports reported that PDP Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar and the party hierarchy refused to endorse either of the party’s two parallel gubernatorial candidates, with the usual handing over of party flag to the party’s gubernatorial candidate absent from the rally’s agenda.
The party in Kano has been beset by a leadership crisis that has resulted in the emergence of two parallel candidates for governor: Abacha and Wali.
Your reaction