Appeal Court sacks Sen. Elisha Abbo

.Akpabio behind my removal, says lawmaker

.I have no hand in your sack – Senate President

An Appeal Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, sacked Sen. Elisha Abbo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Adamawa North Senatorial District.

A three-member panel presided over by Justice C.E. Nwosu-Iheme, in a judgment, ordered the Indeoendent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to Rev. Amos Yohanna of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as validly elected lawmaker for the senatorial district.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC had, on Feb. 25, declared Mr Abbo as the winner of the senatorial poll.

Dissatisfied with the declaration, Yohana and the PDP filed a petition before the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Yola, Adamawa State challenging the return of Abbo.

The tribunal, in its judgment, dismissed the Yohanna’s petition for lacking in merit.

Further dissatisfied with the tribunal’s decision, the PDP’s candidate, through his counsel Johnson Usman,SAN approached the Appeal Court via appeal number: CA/YL/EP/AD/SEN/06/2023 between Rev. Amos Kumai Yohanna and another Vs Ishaku Elisha Cliff and others.

The Court of Appeal, after hearing arguments from parties, agreed with Mr Usman that based on Section 137 of the Electoral Act, 2022, the results tendered clearly showed that there was no compliance with the Electoral Act.

The court, thereafter, deducted the invalid votes from the parties and found that Yohanna and PDP won the election by majority of lawful votes.

The court proceeded to set aside the Certificate of Return issued to Abbo and ordered INEC to issue same to Yohanna as the valid winner of the election representing Adamawa North Senatorial District.

Reacting to the judgment, Mr Sam Ologunorisa, SAN, said he had nothing to say since “the Court of Appeal is the final court.”

When contacted on his reaction to the judgment, lawyer to the APC, Mr Michael Numa, SAN, said he had nothing to say until he sees the judgment.

“I was not in court when the judgment was delivered. So, I will have to see the judgment before I can comment on it,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other members of the panel include Justice M.I SIRAJO and Justice O.A ADEGBHINDE

In a swift reaction,  Elisha Abbo, sacked Adamawa North senator, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio in the appeal court ruling which removed him from the office.

Reacting to the court’s ruling, Abbo said four other senators who worked against the emergence of Akpabio as Senate President had been targeted for removal from the Red Chamber through the court.

Speaking with reporters on Monday in Abuja, Abbo specifically mentioned Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC Abia North) as the next target for removal from the Senate.

He said: “I have it from a reliable source that myself and four other senators within the fold of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will be removed from the Senate through rulings from the courts, all because of working against the emergence of Akpabio as President of the 10th Senate.

“I won’t mention the names of all the four other ones targeted but the next in line is Senator Orji Uzor Kalu,” he said.

He wondered how with over 11,000 votes margin of victory he had above his closest rival, Yohanna Amos Yohanna of the Peoples Democratic Party in the election, the Appeal Court upturned his victory.

“The court judgement is strange and the judiciary needs to please remain the last hope of the common man,” Abbo said.

He appealed to his supporters to remain calm, vowing to recontest in 2027.

.I have no hand in your sack — Senate President

Meanwhile, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has said he has no hand in the sack of his former colleague, Senator Abbo, dismissing his alleged involvement in the political travail of Senator Abbo.
Speaking on Tuesday in a telephone interview, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, Special Adviser, Media, and Publicity to the President of the Senate, denied the involvement of his principal.
He said, “It is unfortunate if he actually said that Akpabio was responsible for his removal. That’s the swan song of a man looking for scapegoats.
“The Court of Appeal across the country decides cases based on the provisions of the Electoral Act and evidence advanced by petitioners. The Senate President has no reason to witch-hunt any of his colleagues.