Appeal Court reaffirms Kumalia as PDP candidate for Borno Central

Forum 1 year ago

Appeal Court reaffirms Kumalia as PDP candidate for Borno Central

The Court of Appeal sitting in Gombe state on Monday reinstated Barrister Mohammed Kumalia as the authentic Candidate for the Borno Central Senatorial District on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Kumalia has been in a Court battle with Hon Jubrin Tatabe who claimed he was the candidate of the party, even as the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in the state also took Kumalia to the federal high court in Maiduguri, where the Court Ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to set aside the publication of Hon Mohammed Umara Kumalia name as Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Borno- Central Senatorial Election.

The court hitherto ordered Hon Kumalia to immediately stop parading himself as the PDP Senatorial Candidate for Borno Central ahead of the general election.

Reacting to the judgement, the Borno state Chairman of the APC, Hon Ali Bukar Dalori said, his party and of course the APC Borno central senatorial candidate, Kaka Shehu Lawan were not intimidated or have nothing to fear, alleging that it would be very difficult for Kumalia who remained an Abuja -Based Politician for over a decade to even win his polling unit, not to talk of his ward in the constituency.

Dalori claimed that his party is very satisfied with the apex court judgement in favour of Kumalia who will be defeated hands down in the forthcoming Saturday polls.

Recalled that the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) and its Borno- Central Senatorial Candidate Hon Kaka Shehu Lawan had approached the Federal High where they sought the disqualification of Hon Mohammed Kumailia on the ground that he did not participate in the PDP primary election.

Delivering his judgement on Monday 9th January in Maiduguri Federal High Court, Justice Jude K Dagat said INEC erred in the first instance by publishing the name of Hon Mohammed Kumailia ” who did not participate in a valid primary election.”

Dissatisfied with Justice Dagat’s Judgement suit No:FHC/MG/CS/54/2022, Kumalia filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Gombe, with APC, Kaka Shehu Lawan, PDP, INEC and Jubrin Tatabe as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Respondents.

But delivering his ruling on Monday 20th February, Appeal No: CA/G/21/2023, before Justice Ebiowei Tobi and other two members Justice Ali Gumel and Justice Jamilu Tukur of Justice Court of Appeal in Gombe, the apex Court set aside the judgement of the trial court dated 9th January 2023, struck out the originating summons for want of Jurisdiction, lack of merit and declared Kumalia as the bonafide Candidate for Borno Central senatorial district on the platform of the PDP.

Reacting to the verdict at a press conference which took place at Kumalia’s residence in Maiduguri on Monday evening, he (Kumalia) expressed confidence over the ruling in his favour.

“I have every reason to thank God and to appreciate our judiciary for standing by the truth and for not yielding to any influence. I believe that we can still be proud of our judiciary in this country.

“By this verdict today, I want the whole world to know that I still remain the bonafide and legitimate candidate for Borno Central senatorial district on the platform of our great party, the PDP, and Insha Allah (by God’s Grace), PDP will win Borno from top to bottom.

Likewise, reacting to the judgement, the Borno state Chairman of the APC, Hon Ali Bukar Dalori said, his party and of course the APC Borno central senatorial candidate, Kaka Shehu Lawan was not intimidated or have nothing to fear, alleging that it would be very difficult for Kumalia who remained an Abuja -Based Politician for over a decade to even win his polling unit, not to talk of his ward in the constituency.

On the allegations levelled against the APC that it was behind sponsoring Hon Jubrin Tatabe against the candidature of Kumalia, Dalori said, “the APC want to categorically warn those perpetrating such fake news including Kumalia to desist henceforth, as the APC has never in its political history sponsored anybody apart from its own candidates to compete with others who had always failed to win an elective position in the state.

“On Kumalia’s claim that he is going to win in the coming Saturday election, I want to say that, Kumalia is just dreaming, because our Candidate for Borno Central, Kaka Shehu Lawan is on the ground. It is on record that he (Kaka Shehu) has contributed his quota towards the development of our dear state in terms of security, politics, youth/women empowerment, poverty alleviation, and jobs creation in the last decade, as Mohammed Kumalia is not going to win even at his polling unit.

“In fact, APC is very happy for Kumalia to be affirmed as a candidate, as he is going to be defeated by the APC before 12 noon come Saturday 25th February 2023, and you Journalists will be on the ground to give us your final verdict on the results on the election processes”. Dalori stated.