Lawan asks court to dismiss suit challenging his return ticket

Senator Ahmad Lawan (APC-Yobe) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have requested a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit seeking to overturn the May 18 Yobe North Senatorial District primary election. Lawan, former Senate President and APC, argued in preliminary objections that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear and decide the suit.

The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, stated in his counter affidavit that plaintiff Hassan Kafayos did not have the legal right to bring the suit, as he had been disqualified from participating in the primary. Kafayos, in his originating summons, claimed to be suing the APC, Yilwatda, Lawan, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the first four defendants.

Kafayos sought four reliefs, including a declaration that the exclusion of his lawful participation in the May 18 senatorial election by the defendants was a violation of his right to freedom from discrimination under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution. He also sought an injunction restraining the defendants from nominating Lawan as the party's candidate for the senatorial district and an order requiring INEC to conduct a new primary election or recognize him as the duly nominated candidate.