* Reinstates Sadiq Wali
The Court of Appeal sitting in Kano, on Friday, sacked Mohammed Abacha as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Kano State.
Mohammed is the son of the former Head of State, late General Sani Abacha, while Sadiq is the son of a Kano PDP chieftain and former of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali.
The court set aside the judgment of a High Court, which recognised Abacha as the PDP flag bearer in the State.
The court also ordered that Sadiq Wali, who was earlier recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), remains the valid governorship candidate.
Justice Usman Musale, who delivered the anonymous judgment of the 3-man panel, held that Abachi had no locus standi to challenge the primary election that produced Wali, as he never participated in the primary election.
Justice Musale said the law is clear that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party can conduct the governorship primary elections of a party, noting that since Abacha did not participate at the primary election conducted by NEC that produced Wali, he therefore had no “locus standi” to challenge the primary.
A Federal High Court, in December 2022, declared Abacha as the authentic governorship flag bearer of the PDP in a case he instituted against Wali and the party.
Earlier on Thursday, the party’s presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, set tongues wagging when he refused to present the party’s flag to either Abacha or Wali at the campaign rally in Kano.