A High Court sitting in Yola, the Adamawa State capital has stopped the member representing Adamawa Northern Senatorial district, Senator Ishaku Cliff Abbo from participating in the 2023 general elections.
The court presided over by Justice Danladi Mohammed, said Senator Abbo Cliff is sacked because he is not entitled to seek re-election since he had been expelled from his ward.
Justice Danladi held that the embattled Senator and APC are bound by the resolution of Mubi North LG Executive dated 7th October 2022, which expelled him, saying that he is not entitled to enjoy any right or privilege accorded to APC members.
Our correspondent recalled that Mubi North Local Government Executives of the party had on the 7th of October 2022, approved the expulsion of the senator as recommended by the party’s Disciplinary Committee.
Similarly, the court further restrained APC under which the Senator is seeking re-election, from recognising him as its candidate, saying that he cannot validly be the candidate of the party in the forthcoming general elections.
It further restrained Senator Abbo from parading himself as candidate of the party in the Northern Senatorial District in the forthcoming general elections.
Justice Danladi, declared that the court is satisfied with the procedure of expelling him (Abbo) from the party, saying that the Senator was accorded opportunity to defend himself but deliberately refused to so do.
He said that the action of the plaintiffs in suing the Senator is not an internal affair of the party as claimed, and that they have locus standi to institute the action against him since they are registered members of the party.
It could be recalled that two APC members, Abdullahi Suleiman and Yusha’u Usman of Kolere and Sabon Layi Wards, Mubi North, respectively, sued the Senator and sought for an interpretation regarding his status in APC.
In his reaction, Counsel to the Plaintiffs, Barrister Abubakar Ali, appreciated the court, saying that the judgement will serve as deterrent to erring members of the party who claim to be above the party and the law.
However, counsel to the defendant, Barrister E. O.Odo promised to brief his client about the decision of the court, saying if he agrees, they will test the judgement”.
