Wase Federal Constituency: Aspirant drags PDP to court for “stealing mandate”

Wase Federal Constituency: Aspirant drags PDP to court for “stealing mandate”

By Lovins Yakubu

December 14, 2018

 The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been dragged to court by Hamisu Suleiman Anani for alleged stealing of his mandate after the party primary election for the Wase House of Representative seat.

Anani, through his counsel, Badamasi Kabir Adam, told a Federal High Court in Jos that the party stole his mandate and gave it to one Umar Suleiman Rabo.

The applicant had alleged that he won the PDP‘s primary election held on Aug. 3, 2018 in Wase having polled the highest votes of 56 against Rabo’s 34 votes.

He stated that however, when the results was collated and sent to the state secretariat of the party, the name of his rival, Umar Suleiman Rabo, was submitted to the national headquarters as the winner of the primary.

Anani, who described the party’s action as ``shocking’’ and ``uncalled for’’ prayed the court to reclaim his mandate from Rabo.

Joined in the suit are Umar Suleiman Rabo, PDP and Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively.

NAN reported that the applicant is seeking for an order compelling the PDP and INEC to consider him as the winner of the said primary election.  

Anani had also prayed the court to issue an order to INEC to publish his name as the winner of PDP primary for Wase House of Representatives seat.

``Instead of forwarding my name (Hamisu Suleiman Anani), the PDP forwarded the name of the 1st defendant and refused to recognize him as the winner without any cogent reason, ’’  Anani claimed.When the case came up for mention before the trial Judge, Justice Musa Kurya. Adam, Applicant’s counsel, told the court that   he had served all the defendants with the originating summon and was ready to go on with the case.

But the defence Counsel to the 1st accused, Mr Yahaya Dangana, applied for extension of time to enable them reply to the originating summon as stipulated by law.

``My Lord, I will need more time to enable me file our further and better affidavit as stipulated by law, ’’ Dangana pleaded.

Also responding, Chief Sunday Odey, Counsel for the PDP, also applied for more time to enable them file a response to the plaintiff’s reply to their Preliminary Objection to the originating summon.

 Counsel for the applicant did not object to the applications raised by the defence counsels.

Consequently, the Judge adjourned the case to Jan. 8, 2019 for hearing.

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