Akpabio Accused of Political Hocus-Pocus in the Senate

An astonishing revelation unfolds as Elisha Abbo, the deposed senator from Adamawa, directly accuses Senate President Godswill Akpabio of engineering the appeal court ruling that ultimately led to his dismissal.

This political saga began when the Court of Appeal in Abuja invalidated Abbo’s election as a senator for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had initially declared Abbo the victor of the February 25, 2023, parliamentary election. However, his rival, Amos Yohanna of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), contested the results and headed to court.

The election tribunal had initially dismissed Yohanna’s petition, deeming it lacking in merit. Unfazed, Yohanna’s legal counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN), then took the case to the Court of Appeal.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the Court of Appeal sided with Usman. They concluded that, in line with Section 137 of the Electoral Act, 2022, the election results submitted clearly demonstrated non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

The court subtracted the invalid votes and declared Yohanna and the PDP as the winners, securing the senatorial district.

In response to this ruling, Abbo claimed that five senators who had opposed Akpabio’s ascent to Senate President were being systematically targeted for removal through the courts.

Without naming all of the senators in question, Abbo specifically identified Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC Abia North) as the next intended target for expulsion from the Senate.

Abbo expressed his incredulity over the court’s decision, considering his substantial margin of victory over his closest rival, Yohanna Amos Yohanna of the PDP, in the election.

He referred to the judgement as unusual and called on the judiciary to uphold its role as the ultimate recourse for the common man.

Despite this setback, Abbo assured his supporters of his intention to run for re-election in 2027.

Efforts to obtain a response from Akpabio regarding Senator Abbo’s allegations were fruitless.

This political drama serves as a captivating testament to the intrigues and conflicts within Nigeria’s political landscape. The accusation, denial, and the broader implications for the Senate’s balance of power continue to fuel the discussion.

Source: Politics Nigeria