Federal High Court Dismisses Maihaja’s Suit, Affirms Baba Mallam Wali’s Victory
By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Federal High Court, Damaturu Judicial Division, sitting in Abuja has delivered judgment in the pre-election suit instituted by Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja challenging the nomination of Baba Mallam Wali as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State.
A Statement signed by Shuaibu Abdullahi, Federal high court press secretary says the Court upheld the preliminary objection that the Plaintiff’s suit was statute-barred, having been instituted outside the constitutionally prescribed period.
The Court further considered the substantive allegations of over-voting and held that the Plaintiff failed to establish his claims. Consequently, even if the action had been commenced within time, it would still have failed on its merits.
The Court also found material contradictions and inconsistencies in the testimonies of the Plaintiff’s witnesses, rendering their evidence unreliable and insufficient to sustain the allegations.
It adds, the judgment represents a significant judicial affirmation of the validity of Baba Mallam Wali’s nomination and reinforces the fundamental principle that electoral allegations must be established by credible and cogent evidence.
