Aspirant challenges NWC over FCT APC reps primary … As another heads to court in Minna
An aggrieved FCT APC House of Representatives aspirant, Yakubu Adamu, has challenged his substitution with another candidate for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency, alleging that he won the primary.
Adamu, who claimed he won the primary, said the party erred by not affirming the result of his election and not consulting other aspirants before reaching the decision to nominate the party’s flag-bearer for the constituency.
He said, “We will contest the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party for bringing on board someone that is barely one month in the party and knowing fully well the guidelines of the primaries and constitution of the party.”
He alleged that the man who was given the ticket did not seek for a waiver, lamenting that the party went ahead to give him the ticket.
“I have not had any party leader invite me as an aspirant to explain the decision of the NWC, so we have decided to challenge the outcome of this decision,” he added.
In a similar situation, an APC aspirant for Lapai/Agaie Federal Constituency in Niger State, Aliyu Mohammed Evuti, has challenged the alleged substitution of his name at the Federal High Court in Minna.
Evuti is challenging the substitution of his name with that of Malam Abdullahi Mahmud which the party sent to INEC as its candidate for the House of Representatives seat.
In the motion filed before the Federal High Court, Aliyu claimed he won the primary but alleged that his name was substituted by that of Mahmud. Joined in the suit were INEC and APC.
In the motion, Aliyu prayed the court to restore his name in the INEC list, having scored the highest votes in the said primary; and having been returned as the candidate of the party before his name was allegedly substituted.
When the case was mentioned yesterday, INEC was represented, but the APC and the first defendant, Mahmud, were absent.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Barr. Oluwole Olukunle, applied for substitution service on the first defendant, which the court granted.
The Judge, Aminu Bappa Aliyu, then adjoined the case to November 21, for further mention.