Binani reinstated as Adamawa APC guber candidate

The Court of Appeal, Yola Division, overturned on Thursday the ruling of the Federal High Court annulling Aishatu Ahmed (aka Binani) as the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for Adamawa State.

The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justices T. Y. Hassan, M. O. Bolaji, and J. G. Abundaga, upheld Binani as an APC governorship candidate.

The court, in its ruling, also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to include Binani’s name on the list of gubernatorial candidates in the 2023 general elections.

The Federal High Court in Yola, Adamawa State, nullified on October 13 the candidature of Binani as the governorship candidate of the APC in the state.

Based on suit FHC/YL/CS/12/2022 filed by a governorship aspirant, Nuhu Ribadu, the court declared Binani’s candidature invalid and unlawful.

The court, however, refused to order a fresh APC governorship primary in the state.

Dissatisfied by the court ruling, Ribadu filed an appeal in suit no. CA/YL/203/2022 between him and the APC and two others.

However, the court, in its ruling on Thursday, dismissed the appeal but allowed Binani’s appeal seeking to overturn the judgment given by the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Abdulaaziz Anka.

Counsel for the APC, Sule J. Abdul, applauded the ruling as a plus for democracy, adding that the court relied on technicalities.

“I believe the issues have been resolved in favor of the appellants, the APC, and also the APC candidate, Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed,” Abdul added.

Counsel for Binani, Tomisin Ologunorisa, appreciated the justices of the Court of Appeal for arriving at the judgment, which he said had made it possible for Binani to reap the benefits of her mission.

There was, however, a mild drama after the court verdict as journalists, who waited to hear the response of Ribadu’s counsel, learned he had sneaked out of the court.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, on Thursday, expressed delight at the court’s decision.

She promised to lead other women to ensure Binani’s victory.

GOGAN TV