The Federal High Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa State has nullified the candidature of Aishatu Ahmed (Binani) as the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress in the state.
Delivering judgment in a suit filed by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, challenging the conduct of the governorship primary election in the state, held on May 26, 2022, the court presided by Justice Abdulaaziz Anka, declared that Binani’s candidature was invalid and unlawful.
The court also refused the plea for a fresh primary, upholing that by the judgment, the APC has no candidate for the 2023 governorship election.
The court held that the primary election was not compliant with the 2022 Electoral Act, the nation’s constitution, and the party guidelines.
The judge said the nomination of Sen. Aishatu Ahmed, popularly known as Binani, was in clear contravention of Section 85 of the Electoral Act because there was “manifest overvoting.
“My findings are that there’s non-compliance to the Electoral Act, as well as party guidelines and the constitution because there was manifest overvoting, which has been proved beyond reasonable doubt.
“The first defendant (APC) cannot field a candidate for the 2023 general elections; the primary election is invalid, and the court therefore sees the return of Aishatu Ahmed Binani as unlawful. The plea for fresh elections is hereby refused”, the judge declared.
The court however, asked the party to utilise the 30-day window available to appeal its ruling
