Elisha Abbo, a former senator from Adamawa North who was removed from office by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, has pointed fingers at Senate President Godswill Akpabio regarding the court’s ruling.
Initially, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Abbo the winner of the parliamentary election held on February 25, 2023. However, Amos Yohanna, his rival from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), contested the result and sought legal redress.
The election tribunal dismissed Yohanna’s petition for a lack of merit, prompting Yohanna to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal. After considering arguments from both sides, the Court of Appeal ruled in favor of Yohanna, stating that the election results did not comply with the Electoral Act.
As a result, the Court of Appeal annulled Abbo’s election and ordered INEC to issue a Certificate of Return to Yohanna, recognizing him as the legitimate representative for the senatorial district.
In response to this ruling, Abbo alleged that five senators who opposed the ascension of Akpabio to the position of Senate President were being targeted for expulsion from the Senate through the judicial system. He specifically mentioned Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC Abia North) as the next senator in line for removal.
Despite his substantial margin of victory, with over 11,000 votes more than his closest rival, Yohanna Amos Yohanna of the PDP, Abbo expressed his skepticism about the Court of Appeal’s decision, characterizing it as unconventional. He called on the judiciary to uphold its role as the final recourse for the common people.
Abbo encouraged his supporters to remain calm and affirmed his intention to run for re-election in 2027.
Efforts to obtain a response from Akpabio regarding these allegations were unfruitful at the time of this report.
