Adamawa APC Rep-Elect’s Election NULLIFIED by court over Forgery

Adamawa APC Rep-Elect’s election has been nullified by the Federal High court, Abuja, Friday.

Abdulrauf Modibbo was sacked by Justice Inyang Ekwo as member-elect representing Yola South/Yola North/Girei Federal Constituency of Adamawa in the National Assembly after delivering judgment in a suit filed by Mustapha Usman, challenging the election.

Usman dragged APC’s Modibbo to court after he was declared the winner of the All Progressives Congress’ primaries held on Oct. 7, 2018, in Yola, alleging his age was falsified therefore he was not eligible to contest for the primaries. Modibbo went on to represent the APC in the 2019 general elections, which he was also declared the winner.

The court granted his prayer to disqualify Modibbo as APC candidate for Yola North/Yola South/Girei Federal Constituency. He joined the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants in the suit.

The court also held that Modibbo was a serving National Youth Corps member when he contested the primary election saying the action breached Section 4 of the NYSC Act 2004.

“A person who is a lawbreaker cannot be a lawmaker, this illegality is one that cannot be wished away,” the judge said.

The judge declared that in view of the disqualification Modibbo, Usman who polled the 2nd highest votes in Oct. 7, 2018, the primary election of the APC for Yola South/Yola North/Girei Federal Constituency of Adamawa was the lawful winner.

Justice Ekwo ordered that the APC and INEC to immediately replace Modibbo’s name with that of Usman as the lawful candidate of the APC for the federal constituency.