Smart Adeyemi, Shuaibu Audu heads to Court, Seek Nullification Of APC Primary Polls In Kogi

The senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Smart Adeyemi, and the son of the state’s former governor, Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, have sought the nullification of the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in the state.

TrackNews reports that the duo requested a Federal High Court in Abuja to cancel the primary election that produced Usman Ododo, who is believed to be governor Yahaya Bello’s preferred candidate.

In the suits marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/556/2023 and FHC/ABJ/ CS/557/2023, Adeyemi and Audu respectively are asking the court to declare APC’s purported primary as illegal, unlawful and invalid for the November governorship election.

According to them, the selection of Ododo was against the provision of Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution and sections 29 and 84 of the Electoral Act as well as Article 20 of the APC’s constitution.

In a 35-paragraph affidavit in support of his own originating summons, Adeyemi claimed to have obtained his nomination and expression of interest form at N50 million upon which he was screened and cleared to participate in the primary election slated for April 14, 2023, because the election was not held, adding that his senatorial district has never produced a governor.

The two aspirants are therefore seeking the court’s order to declare the primary election thanks and void.

It was gathered that other aspirants who have already commenced legal action against the outcome of the APC primary in Kogi include a former Minister of State for Education, Professor Stephen Ocheni, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC, Martala Yakubu Ajaka and Dr Sanusi Ohiara.