2023: Appeal Court affirms Kumalia as PDP Borno Central Senatorial Candidate

By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –

The Court of Appeal Gombe Judicial Division on Monday declared Barrister Mohammed Umar Kumalia as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) authentic and legitimate candidate for Borno Central Senatorial election.

Similarly, Court of Appeal Abuja Judicial Division FCT Abuja also set aside appeal against the decision of the lower court delivered on 20th September 2022 declaring Barrister Mohammed Umar Kumalia as the legitimate PDP Senatorial’ Candidate for Borno Central.

Addressing Journalists in Maiduguri on Monday evening and displaying photocopies of the two judgments from Gombe and Abuja respectively, Barrister Kumalia added that,” as the Abuja judgment was coming out in my favour where Tatabe appealed against Abuja Federal High Court ruling that i am the legitimate Candidate of Borno Central Senatorial 2023 election”.

”I won the appeal i filed against the APC Candidate for the Borno Central, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan in Gombe where the Federal High Court Maiduguri Judicial Division had asked INEC to set aside my name as PDP candidate and also stop me from parading as the PDP 2023 Senatorial’ Candidates for Borno Central”.

”’My appeal against the candidate and the party where the judgment of the Appeal Court said the APC party and the 2023 Borno Central APC Senatorial’ candidate , Barrister Kakq Shehu Lawan has no business with my party and candidacy.

”My candidacy is a personal matter and within my party, PDP not their party, APC which they don’t have business with. So, the Appeal Court squash the judgment of the Federal High Court Maiduguri which had earlier asked INEC to set aside my name as PDP candidate for the Borno Central Senatorial ‘election.

”’That means, i am the authentic and legitimate candidate of PDP Borno Central Senatorial seat in the forthcoming February 25th, 2023 election. Because since 20th September, 2022 my name was with INEC up to; to 21st JANUARY 2023. Before they asked the Federal High Court Maiduguri to tell INEC to remove or set aside my name as PDP Senatorial’ candidate .

”Now it is over. The court has set aside all the suits filed by both the APC Senatorial candidate , Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan in Maiduguri and Hon. Jibrin Mustapha Tatabe at Federal High Court, FCT Abuja which both judgments came out today Monday just about 5 days to the election. Day.

”So, i call you people here to tell the world that i am the authentic and legitimate candidate for the PDP Borno Central Senatorial election on 25th February 2023 based on the two judgments which equally have set aside the two cases that were appealed in Abuja and Gombe respectively,” Kumalia said.

The 2023 PDP Senatorial’ Candidate further explained that already he has been on campaigns across the eight (8) local government areas of the Borno Central zone or Senatorial district since about three months ago even when Tatabe dragged him to court.

He said he has never stopped campaigning including the women and youths wing of the PDP has been on campaigns mobilizing women for him and other candidates of the party.

”Therefore, , election is not a do or die affair. If God say i will win election, i will win election and if God say i will not win election, I will not win election. I have been in politics for almost 33 years and I know what it mean to win election or what it takes to win election.

”I have contested several elective positions and won some and failed some. And by the grace of God, I am going win this election. Insha Allah i will win the election,” Kumalia maid.