The Court of Appeal in Abuja has made a significant ruling in the case involving Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Yusuf Umar Datti of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam Federal Constituency Election.
In a judgment delivered by a three-panel led by Justice Tunde Oyebamiji Awotoye, the court sided with Yusuf Datti, who had filed an appeal challenging the election results. The court found fault with the previous tribunal's decision to count the date of Datti's resignation from the APC on the day of his party's primary election, ultimately leading to the election of Kwankwaso.
The court ruled that Section 77 of the Electoral Act was misapplied in this case, emphasizing that no court possesses the jurisdiction to decide on matters related to party membership.
This decision has far-reaching implications for the constituency's representation in the Federal House of Representatives, as it effectively reverses the outcome of the election. Datti, from the NNPP, will now be reinstated as the rightful representative of the Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam Federal Constituency.
