Sen Muhammad Adamu Aliero has been validated as the Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the Kebbi Central Senatorial District in the forthcoming election by the Supreme Court, on Monday.
This has finally settled the legal battle on who will represent the zone between Haruna Sa’idu on one hand and the former Governor of Kebbi State, Aliero on the other.
The lawsuit followed the emergence of the incumbent Senator, Aliero, as the party’s candidate in the PDP re-run primary election held on June 8.
Aliero defected from the All Progressives Congress, APC, following a fall-out with Governor Atiku Bagudu surrounding the primaries.
Kebbi Central Senatorial District comprises Birnin Kebbi, Gwandu, Jega, Maiyama, Koko-Bese, Kalgo, Aliero and Bunza Local Government Areas of the state.
Recall thar Haruna Sa’idu-Dan-diyo had won the Primary conducted on May 24, before the eventual defection of Senator Aliero and subsequent re-run. Dissatisfied with the outcome of the re-run, Sa’idu approached the Court for reprieve.
In September 2022, Justice Baba Gana Ashigar of the Federal High Court sitting in Birnin Kebbi nullified the re-run and validated Sa’idu as the bonafide Candidate of the Party. This decision was upheld by the Sokoto Appeal Court.
Justice Mohammed Danjuma JCA, on behalf of the panel of Justices, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merits and upheld Sa’idu as the Candidate of the Party.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, Aliero approached the Apex Court to set aside the judgements of the lower Courts and affirm his Candidacy.
The panel led by Justice Chima Centus Nweze JSC agreed with the appellants. In the majority judgement read by Justice Adamu Amina Augie JSC, the apex court held that Aliero’s appeal “is pregnant with merit and is accordingly allowed”.
“The judgement of the lower court, which declared Saidu Haruna as winner of the Kebbi Central Senatorial District primary election is hereby set aside.” All Judges agreed with the judgement with a dissenter, Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim JSC
The apex Court has now set aside the decisions of the lower Courts and upheld Aliero as the Candidate of the Party.
The Supreme Court also validated Dr. Abubakar Yahaya Abdullahi as the PDP Candidate for Kebbi North Senatorial District in the February 2023 election.
Kebbi North Senatorial District comprises Arewa Dandi, Argungu, Augie, Bagudo, Dandi, Jega, and Suru LGAs.
Like Aliero, the former Senate Majority Leader, Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi resigned from the APC following some disagreement with the State Structure of his Party. He defected to the PDP after the first Primary had been conducted and won by Hon. Sani Bawa Argungu.
Senator Abdullahi, an incumbent Senator, won the re-run conducted by the Party. Justice Ashigar nullified his Candidacy and upheld Argungu as the valid Candidate, a decision that was also stamped by the Appellate Court in Sokoto.
The Supreme Court has now overturned the judgements of the lower Courts and affirmed the appellant as the Candidate of the Party.
