Court admits 9 Katsina APC LGA chairmen over congresses

A Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted nine APC chairmen in Katsina State over a suit challenging the state’s local government congresses.

Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo, yesterday, approved the application for joinder as defendants after it was not objected as made by counsel to the chairmen, Magaji Mahmud (SAN), who moved same.

Those admitted in the suit are Sirajo Ado (Jibia), Aminu Abubakar (Dan-Musa), Aminu Yusuf (Dutsin-ma), Isah Sani (Musawa), Hamisu Adamu (Faskia), Fama’ila Garba (Kafur), Danjuma Mamman (Kankia), Armay’au Bala (Mashi) and Abdullahi Sule (Sandamu).

Also admitted in the suit which has INEC and APC as defendants are the state Chairman of the party, Shittu S. Shittu, and the Secretary, Sani Ahmed.

The suit was brought by two governorship aspirants of the APC in the state, Alhaji Garba Sani Dankani and Muhammad Sada Mainasara, who are asking the court to nullify, invalidate and set aside the purported congresses of the party held on May 12.

The aspirants are contending that the congresses in the wards, local governments and state did not comply with the provisions of Section 85(3) of the Electoral Act, 2010, and articles 12:12(ii), 12.15, 12.16, 13:10, 13:12(ii) (iii), 20(i)(a) and 20(iv)(a)(b) and (d) of the Constitution of the APC, 2014.

The aggrieved aspirants, led by their counsel, Ola Olanipekun (SAN), also want the court to restrain INEC from recognising any person or group of individuals from holding themselves out as elected ward, local government or state executive committee members of the APC in the state pending the conduct of valid congresses.

The suit was adjourned to December 5, hearing. for