Abia Guber: Kano judgement against Otti, others inconsequential
Ume Kalu, SAN has described the judgement by a Kano Federal High Court sacking Alex Otti, and other candidates of the Labour Party in the just concluded general elections as inconsequential.
Kalu stated this while reacting to media reports that Otti, who was declared winner in Abia State gubernatorial election has been sacked.
He said, “The judgement is inconsequential and dead on arrival. It is dead on arrival because Alex Otti is not a party to the suit. I have seen the judgement. You cannot make an order to anybody that is not a party before you. The issues they raised there are the same thing they raised at the tribunal. They said that the membership register of the Labour Party (LP) was not submitted 30 days before— and— all these issues were raised at the tribunal.
“Elections have come and gone; candidates accepted by INEC, elections conducted, results declared. Any issue that has to do with that election, the only arena for it is the election tribunal. The issue they raised is pre- election matter.
Speaking on the legality of the case, Kalu said “But, even on the merit, the Kano case is dead on arrival. You cannot shave anybody’s head in his absence. Alex Otti’s name was not mentioned in that judgement even though I think he is the target.”
