Arewa/Dandi Federal Constituency: Kamba asks Court, INEC to declare him APC candidature
An aggrieved aspirant, Alhaji Umar Abdullahi Kamba who claimed to have won the All Progressives Congress (APC), primary for Arewa / Dandi Federal Constituency for House of Representatives has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), from recognising Hussaini Suleiman Kangiwa as APC candidate for the Federal Constituency.
He also asked the court for an order of mandatory injunction restraining Hussaini Suleiman Kangiwa from parading himself as candidate of APC for Arewa / Dandi Federal Constituency, the plaintiff having won the primary election by 604 votes against Kangiwa three votes.
In a suit filed at the Federal High Court by Ibrahim Bawa (SAN) on behalf of the plaintiff against All Progressive Congress, Hussaini Suleiman Kangiwa and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the plaintiff asked Court for an order of mandatory injunction compelling APC to submit Umar Abdullahi Kamba’s name to INEC as APC candidate for the constituency.
He also sought further declarative order directing INEC to accept and treat Kamba as the candidate of APC for Arewa/ Dandi federal constituency for 2019 general election.
A declaration that it is not lawful for INEC or APC to change the result of the primary election conducted for the Arewa/Dandi Federal Constituency of Kebbi State in which the plaintiff emerged winner and was so declared by the APC.
Another declaration that it is not lawful for APC to recognise and forward the name of another candidate than Umar Abdullahi Kamba’s name who won the primary election to the Independent National Electoral Commission as its candidate for Arewa /Dandi Federal Constituency.
A declaration that it is not lawful for INEC to change the result of the primary election conducted for the Arewa/Dandi Federal Constituency of Kebbi State in which the plaintiff emerged winner and was so declared by the APC.
A further declaration that any name of candidate submitted to INEC which is not the name of the plaintiff for Arewa/ Dandi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives is unlawful, null and void.
In an affidavit in support of the originating summons the plaintiff averred that he won the APC primary election conducted for Arewa/Dandi Federal Constituency with 604 votes being the highest votes scored during the primary while Kangiwa scored only three votes.
When the matter came up before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba on Wednesday, plaintiff lawyer, Ibrahim Bawa (SAN) informed the court that APC has been served with the processes but they were not represented in Court.
F.O Edeawe announced appearance for INEC while another lawyer Aminu Hassan announced appearance for two other aspirants who seek to be joined as respondents.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba ordered a fresh hearing notice be served on APC and adjourned the matter to October 27 for hearing.
Meanwhile, Hajiya Sa’adatu Hussini told journalists after the court session that what the plaintiff and hundreds of supporters that throne in the court premises is justice.
She appealed to APC to allow the electorates’ choice of candidate to stand adding that fielding a candidate who did win primary would be counterproductive during the election.
