The Court of Appeal in Abuja delivered a significant verdict on Monday nullifying the election of Senator Elisha Abbo, who represented Adamawa North Senatorial District. The appellate court proclaimed Amos Yohanna of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the rightful winner of the February 25 senatorial election.
Yohanna, in his petition filed at the Yola tribunal, contested Abbo’s victory on the grounds that the APC candidate did not secure the majority of lawful votes. Alleging irregularities such as false entries, alterations, and canceled votes, Yohanna sought the tribunal’s intervention.
The Court of Appeal, in its judgment, concurred with Yohanna’s arguments, leading to the nullification of Abbo’s election. As the final arbiter in senatorial election disputes, the appellate court’s decision is binding.
Reacting to his ousting, Abbo laid blame on Senate President Godswill Akpabio, alleging that Akpabio played a role in the unfavorable court judgment against him. Abbo further claimed insider information about the planned removal of himself and four other APC senators, accusing them of working against Akpabio’s bid for the presidency of the 10th Senate.
While expressing his disagreement with the court’s decision, Abbo insisted on his popularity, citing an 11,000-vote margin of victory against the PDP candidate. He criticized the court judgment as “strange” and urged the judiciary to uphold its role as the last hope of the common man.
Addressing President Bola Tinubu, Abbo called for the protection of democracy, emphasizing that the recent developments were not reflective of the democracy fought for. Despite the setback, Abbo assured his supporters to remain calm, pledging a return to the Senate in 2027.
