Thursday, a Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja rejected a petition to overturn its Nov. 4 decision recognising the Action Alliance (AA) party leadership led by Dr Adekunle Rufai Omo-candidates. Aje's
In a decision, Justice Zainab Abubakar determined that the appeal made by the factional leadership led by Kenneth Obidiche Udeze lacked merit.
Recall that Justice Abubakar had instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in his ruling on November 4 to accept the candidates the Omo-Aje leadership of the AA had put up for the general elections of 2023.
Major Hamzat Al-Mustpha was among the candidates submitted by factional leader Udeze whom the judge also ordered the electoral umpire to reject (rtd.).
Udeze, whose suspension and expulsion as the AA national chairman had been affirmed in two judgements of the Court of Appeal, appealed to the FHC, Abuja, to set aside the Nov. 4 verdict, contending that it was gained by fraud and that he was still the party's national chairman.
Justice Abubakar issued the verdict on Thursday, stating that Udeze could not legally claim to be the party's chairman in light of the two continuing Court of Appeal rulings and another decision by an FHC in Abeokuta.
The verdict of the Abeokuta FHC was made on September 8 by Justice J. O. Abdulmalik in a case with the filing number FHC/AB/CS/120/2022. The two judgements of the Court of Appeal were rendered on January 7 and November 11, respectively.
According to the judge, Udeze's prior ruling from November 4 was not acquired fraudulently as she claimed.
She characterised Udeze as a busybody and intrusive outsider who tried to meddle in the party's business and was eventually kicked out.
As a result, Abubakar dismissed the lawsuit.
On June 9 in Abuja, Al-Mustapha, a former adviser to the late Gen. Sani Abacha, won the party's presidential primary election with a total of 506 votes, defeating Samson Odupitan, his sole rival.