Wali challenges Abacha’s validation as Kano guber candidate, appeals judgment

Barely 24 hours after the Federal High Court affirmed Muhammad Abacha as lawful gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State, Sadiq Wali, has headed to Appeal Court to challenge his removal.

The court in a judgment delivered via zoom also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to expunge Wali’s name and substitute it with that of Abacha henceforth.

Before Justice A.M. Liman’s judgment, Wali was recognised by the PDP National Working Committee as the party’s gubernatorial flag-bearer for next year’s election in Kano.

The son of the former Foreign Affairs Minister during president Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Aminu Wali, was only few days ago presented with the party’s flag along other candidates during a colourful event presided over by former Governor Ibrahim Shekaru.

Addressing journalists on the aftermath of the judgment, Wali, who was assured of reclaiming his mandate, called on PDP supporters to remain calm.
He explained that arrangement had reached top gear with his lawyers who had already discovered several errors on the judgment, to challenge the Justice Liman’s verdict. 

He said: “We will win at Appeal Court, God willing. We will be victorious and emerge winners of the 2023 elections by God’s grace. This judgment is riddled with errors but because I’m not a legal practitioner, I cannot say much on this, but my lawyers will speak about it,” Wali said.

Shedding light on the development, Wali’s counsel, Dr. Nasir Aliyu SAN told journalists that his client has over 20 grounds for defense at Appeal Court. The lawyer disclosed that he has secured Wali’s nod to file the appeal immediately.

Aliyu explained that Section 82 of the Electoral Act 2022 states that notice of primary election should be served to national headquarters of INEC, not state, in not less than 21 days.
 
“We served the notice before the deadline, but the judge declared the primary election illegal because the national body of PDP served headquarters of INEC not state headquarters. This is a big mistake. The PDP was on course to have served INEC national headquarters,” he explained