By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Akpabio denies involvement in Abbo’s Senate removal
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has refuted allegations linking him to the removal of Senator Elisha Abbo from the Senate, as ruled by the Court of Appeal.
Abbo had claimed that Akpabio orchestrated his expulsion from the Red Chamber. The ousted Adamawa North senator was among the legislators who supported Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Akpabio’s main contender for the Senate presidency.
Abbo alleged that four other senators who opposed Akpabio’s bid for Senate President were also targeted for removal through legal means.
In response, Eseme Eyiboh, media aide to the Senate President, stated that Akpabio played no part in the court’s decision to sack Abbo.
Eyiboh emphasized, “It is regrettable if he indeed insinuated that Akpabio was behind his removal. That’s a diversionary tactic from a man seeking scapegoats. The Court of Appeal adjudicates cases based on the provisions of the Electoral Act and evidence presented by petitioners. The Senate President has no motive to victimize any of his colleagues.”
The Court of Appeal in Abuja nullified Abbo’s election under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had initially declared Abbo as the winner of the February 25, 2023 parliamentary election. However, his rival, Amos Yohanna of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), contested the result.
Although Yohanna’s petition was dismissed by the tribunal for lacking merit, he subsequently approached the Appeal Court.
The Court of Appeal concurred with Yohanna’s argument that, in accordance with Section 137 of the Electoral Act, 2022, the presented results indicated non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
Following this assessment, the court subtracted the invalid votes and determined that Yohanna and the PDP had won the election based on the majority of valid votes.
In a judgement delivered by the three-member panel led by Justice C.E. Nwosu-Iheme, INEC was instructed to issue a Certificate of Return to Yohanna as the duly elected representative for the senatorial district.