The Court of Appeal on Monday has sacked the lawmaker representing Adamawa North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Elisha Ishaku Abbo.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja voided the election of Abbo of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The APC senator confirmed the development while addressing journalists on Monday
According to him, the court voided his election in favour of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Amos Yohanna.
DAILY GIST recalls that Senator Abbo had won his re-election in the February 25, 2023 National Assembly election while Yohanna came second, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Abbo became famous when he assaulted a nursing mother at a sex toy shop in Abuja two years ago. The incident was captured by a CCTV camera.
Speaking after the court nullified his election into the Senate on Monday at his Abuja home, Abbo fingered the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio of being behind his removal by the Court of Appeal.
According to him, Akpabio’s next move is to remove the former Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu and four others.
He did not mention the other four despite repeated probing.
The court on Monday nullified the decision of the lower court which affirmed his election in a unanimous decision.
The court held that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the election, Amos Yohanna was the winner.
Abbo described the upper court decision as a coup yet alleging that, “I have it from a reliable source that myself and four other senators within the fold of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will be removed from the Senate through rulings from the courts, all because of working against the emergence of Akpabio as President of the 10th Senate.
“I won’t mention the names of all the four other ones targeted but the next in line is Senator Orji Uzor Kalu,” he said.
He said he won the election with over 11,000 votes.
“The court judgement is strange and the judiciary needs to please remain the last hope of the common man,” Abbo stated.
But reacting, Senate President Godswill Akpabio dismisses the allegation
Eseme Eyiboh, media aide to the Senate President said his principal has no hand in the court judgement, which sacked Abbo from the Senate.
Eyiboh said, “It is unfortunate if he actually said that Akpabio was responsible for his removal. That’s the swan song of a man looking for scapegoats.
The Court of Appeal across the country decides cases based on the provisions of the Electoral Act and evidence advanced by petitioners. The Senate President has no reason to witch-hunt any of his colleagues.”
DAILY GIST learnt that Legislative electoral disputes stops at the Appeal Court as only presidential and governorship gets to the Supreme Court.
Abbo then appealed to his supporters to remain calm even as he vowed to recontest in 2027.
Abbo, like Orji Kalu, was one of the few senators in the APC, who did not support Akpabio’s bid for the position of the Senate president in June.
