On Wednesday, the Appeal Court in Kano division affirmed the verdict of the Federal high court that validated the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary which produced Abdullahi Mahmoud Gaya as the party’s candidate for Gaya/Ajingi/Albasu federal constituency of Kano State.
The court also struck out the appeal filed by special assistant to president Muhammad Buhari on digital communication, Bashir Ahmad, which sought to challenge the credibility of Gaya’s nomination at the APC primary.
The presidential aide had questioned the 7th, December, 2022 judgement of Justice Abdullahi Liman of the Federal high court in Kano, which dismissed his prayers against Gaya for lacking in merit.
In a lead panel judgment of Justice Boloukuromo Ugo, Justice Usman Alhaji Musale and presiding Judge, Justice Ita G. Mbaba, the appellate court dismissed the appellant’s appeal on the basis that the lower court delivered judgement on the pre-election trial outside the 180 days limit stipulated by the constitution.
The first (Gaya) and second (APC) respondents had moved a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court of appeal to appeal Ahmad’s appeal, cited the provisions of section 284 (10) of 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria as amended.
Gaya was declared the winner with 109 votes to defeat Ahmad who got 16 votes in the July 27th, 2022 APC primary, to secure the party’s ticket.
