A Kano State High Court has nullified the emergence of Alhaji Abdullahi Ghali-Shitu Basaf as Chairman of Kumbotso Local Government Council, setting aside his certificate of return over what it described as a breach of court orders.
In a judgment delivered on Tuesday, Justice Abdu Maiwada-Abubakar held that the process leading to Basaf’s recognition as chairman was rooted in disobedience to a valid subsisting court order.
The suit was instituted by Ali Musa-Danmalki, who challenged his replacement as candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party for the Kumbotso Local Government chairmanship election.
Musa-Danmalki, through his counsel, S.B. Wadau and Jazuli Mustafa, had asked the court to declare him the lawful candidate of the party, insisting that his substitution violated electoral guidelines and due process.
He further contended that despite an earlier court ruling affirming his candidacy, the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission went ahead to swear in Basaf as chairman.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Maiwada-Abubakar voided the certificate of return issued to Basaf and nullified all actions taken in defiance of the court’s earlier directive.
“This honourable court sets aside all acts done by the respondents in violation of its orders,” the judge ruled.
The court also ordered KANSIEC to strictly comply with the judgment delivered on October 25, 2024, which had recognised Musa-Danmalki as the validly nominated candidate for the election.
The respondents in the suit are the NNPP, Basaf, and KANSIEC.
Earlier, Justice Usman Na’abba of Kano High Court No. 4 had affirmed Musa-Danmalki as the rightful candidate after finding that he was duly nominated, screened, and cleared by the party before his name was replaced.
The latest ruling reinforces the court’s stance on the sanctity of judicial orders and underscores the legal consequences of disregarding them in Nigeria’s electoral process.
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