By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
A Minna High Court has declared Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi Aloma as the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC for the Paikoro Local Government Council in the election scheduled for November this year.
The court presided over by Justice Abdullahi Mikailu, in a judgment on Thursday ordered the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission ( NSIEC) to issue Dr Ibrahim Aloma the certificate of return as the APC Chairmanship candidate for the Paikoro Local Government immediately.
Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Aloma had sued Honourable Aminu Umar Yandayi, All Progressives Congress APC and the Niger state Independent Electoral Commission after the party submitted Yandayi to the NSIEC as its candidate.
The court dismissed the Notice of Preliminary objection filed by the 1st defendant’s counsel and held that the plaintiff’s case is not statute barred as it was filed within the 14 days time limit provided by law.
The court granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiff declaring that, “the Plaintiff (Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Aloma) is the validly nominated Consensus Candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the office of Chairmanship of Paikoro Local Government Council in the forthcoming Local government council election of 2025”.
The court ordered the setting aside of the submission of the name of 1st Defendant (Hon. Aminu Umar Yandayi) to the 3rd Defendant (Niger state Independent Electoral Commission) as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Chairmanship position of Paikoro Local Government Council of Niger State, in the forthcoming 2025 Local Government Council Election.
Justice Abdullahi Mikailu also issued an order mandating the 2nd defendant (All Progressives Congress) to restore the name of the Plaintiff as the Candidate of 2nd Defendant (All Progressives Congress) for Chairmanship position of Paikoro Local Government Council of Niger State in the forthcoming 2025 Local Government Election.
The court issued an order deeming the name of the Plaintiff (Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Aloma) as the name submitted/nominated by the 2nd Defendant (All Progressives Congress) to the 3rd Defendant (Niger state Independent Electoral Commission) as the candidate as the 2nd Defendant’s Candidate for the Paikoro Council Chairmanship position.
“An Order of Court mandating the 3rd defendant (Niger state Independent Electoral Commission) to withdraw the Certificate of return that may be issued to the 1st Defendant (Hon. Aminu Umar Yandayi) as the winner of Paikoro Local Government Council Chairmanship candidate and issue same to the Plaintiff , Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Aloma”, the court ruled.
The judge also issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from dealing in any way with the Candidature of the Plaintiff, as the Candidate of the 2nd Defendant (All Progressives Congress) for the Chairmanship position of Paikoro Local Government Council of Niger State in the forthcoming 2025 Local Government Election.
