Mohammed Abacha,
son of late Nigerian military leader, Sani Abacha, yesterday went to a
Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking that he be declared the
governorship candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), in
Kano State.
Mr Abacha claimed
that he won the primary election in the state but the party failed to
send his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In an originating
summons filed by his lawyer, Abdullahi Haruna, Mr Abacha wants the
court to declare that INEC should not recognise any other governorship
candidate from the CPC except him. He stated that after the primary
election conducted on January 12, he scored the highest vote of 144,066
in the party above the other four candidates who contested against him.
Noting that Lawal Ja’afar Isah scored 78,671 votes, while Rufai Sani
Hanga got 45,618 votes; Awalu Anwar (30,410) and Magaji Abdullahi
(5,795).
In the suit, the
CPC is 1st defendant, INEC 2nd defendant, Mr Isah 3rd defendant and the
party’s Chairman, Board of Trustees, Muhammadu Buhari as 4th defendant.
“The result of the
election was authenticated by officials of INEC and personnel of the
State Security Service as well as officials of the Nigeria Police
Force. This result was also announced by CPC Electoral Committee
Chairman, M.D. Sulaiman.” He added. According to Mr Abacha,
“notwithstanding the result of the primary election, the Congress of
Progressive Change, decided to forward the name of Mr Isah to INEC in
violation of the Electoral Act 2010 and the CPC guideline on the
nomination of candidates into elective offices.” He is seeking an order
of injunction restraining the 2nd defendant (INEC) from recognising,
accepting or dealing with the 3rd defendant (Lawal Ja’afar Isah) as
flagbearer of the 1st defendant (CPC) in the April 16 2011, since he
did not emerge in accordance with the Electoral Act 2010.
He wants the court
to declare that the failure of CPC to submit his name to INEC as the
duly elected candidate of the party for the April polls was a clear
breach of the party’s constitution and should therefore be reversed in
the interest of justice and fair play.
According to him, the intervention of the court is necessary to make
CPC and Mr Buhari to respect the law, the party’s constitution and the
Electoral Act.
