May 06, (THEWILL) – The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau-led faction against the Kano state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court Justices, upheld a judgement of the Court of Appeal, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) division which quashed the verdict of a trial court that held that the parallel congresses conducted by the APC faction, led by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau aligned with electoral provisions.
The apex court held that the appeal filed by Shekarau-led faction lack merit and ineffective in line with established legal authority.
The appellants in the suit are Musa Chola and 1,319 others and the respondents include the APC, Governor Mai Mala Buni, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, Olayide, Adewale Akinremi, Senator Abba Ali, Dr Tony Macfoy, Auwalu Abdullahi, Usman Kaita, Adebayo Iyaniwura and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
THEWILL reports that the Kano state chapter of the APC, has two factions, one loyal to the state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, another (called the G-7) led by a former governor of the state, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, had on November 30, 2021, declared the ward congress conducted by the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje faction of the APC in Kano illegal, null and void.
The court, presided over by Justice Hamza Muazu, had on December 17, upheld the local government congresses conducted by the Senator Ibrahim Shekarau faction.
However, being dissatisfied with the rulings, the Ganduje faction filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal which nullified the lower court judgement and gave Senator Ibrahim Shekarau’s G-7 faction of the APC victory, on February 17.
Delivering judgement on Friday, the five-man panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Mary Peter Odili
In its verdict on February 17, 2022, the appeal court quashed the FCT Federal High Court decision for its lack of jurisdiction in deciding a case that happened in the state, dismissed all the prayers against the Ganduje-led APC faction.
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