Aisha Dahiru, popularly known as Binani, who ran as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Adamawa governorship election, has once again taken legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), News About Nigeria reports.
This comes after INEC nullified her declaration as the governor of Adamawa in the March 18 governorship election. Binani, represented by her lawyer Michael Aondoaka, has filed a fresh lawsuit before Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the lawsuit, Binani named INEC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its candidate Governor Ahmadu Fintiri as the respondents.
She is seeking a judicial review of INEC’s decision to reverse her initial announcement as the winner of the election.
Aondoaka argued that the election petition tribunal should have the authority to determine Binani’s fate, citing Section 149 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Aondoaka raised apprehensions about the implications of INEC’s decision, highlighting the potential deprivation of Binani’s rights as outlined in Section 285(6).
This provision grants a 180-day period for the resolution of her petition, which she filed before the tribunal on May 6.
During the court proceedings, Aondoaka informed the court that a previous lawsuit had been filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo.
In response to this earlier case, Justice Ekwo directed Binani to pursue the matter through the tribunal, specifically relating to an election-related issue.
Aondoaka requested a review of INEC’s action and provided an undertaking to demonstrate that the present suit was not frivolous, assuring that they were prepared to bear any costs if the court found the case to be frivolous.
After hearing Aondoaka’s arguments, Justice Okorowo adjourned the matter for ruling.
It should be noted that Binani had previously withdrawn a suit before Justice Ekwo on April 26 after Governor Fintiri was declared the winner of the governorship poll. Binani’s lawyer, Mohammed Sheriff, submitted a notice of discontinuance and made a plea to the court for the case to be dismissed.
However, Justice Ekwo reminded Sheriff of the court’s earlier order to address the jurisdiction of the case, and when Sheriff failed to comply, the judge dismissed the matter.
