Appeal Court sacks Senator Abbo of Adamawa North

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has voided Senator Ishaku Abbo’s election, declaring Revd. Amos Yohanna of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the 2023 Adamawa North senatorial election.

Yohanna had in a petition filed at the tribunal sitting in Yola, challenged the election of Abbo as the winner of the election.In his petition marked EPT/AD/SEN/02/2023, Yohanna alleged that the election of Abbo was invalid.

He said Abbo’s winning was characterised by corrupt practices and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, adding that Abbo was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast during the election. He alleged that there were cases of over-voting at various polling units, false entries, alteration and cancellation of votes at several polling units, among others.

Yohanna, who said some of the cancellations were not signed by presiding officers of the polling units, prayed the tribunal to set aside the election of Abbo.

Meanwhile, Abbo, in a final written address filed by his counsel, Sam. Ologunorisha (SAN), on June 19, 2023, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition, stating that it is lacking in merit.

However, in a new twist of events, yesterday, the Appeal Court granted the prayers of Yohanna, declaring him winner of the senatorial election.
Abbo in his reaction in a post on Facebook, said: “The Appeal Court in Abuja just voided my election. The gang-up has temporarily worked.”

Also, Abbo, while addressing the media in Abuja, yesterday, said five senators, including himself, that worked against the emergence of Godswill Akpabio as President of the Senate, had been targeted for removal from the upper legislative chamber. He said the former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, would be the next person to be removed.

Abbo, who expressed disappointment that the judiciary is being used by some people he referred to as “cabal members,” noted that democracy was being destroyed. He, therefore, urged President Bola Tinubu to note that the democracy he fought for during the military rule is not the one being practised at the moment.