Court of Appeal delivers verdicts, ousts several NASS members after the 2023 elections

The Court of Appeal has issued significant verdicts affecting members of the National Assembly, resulting in the removal of several lawmakers from both the Senate and the House of Representatives. This unprecedented wave of judicial decisions, occurring over five months, has reshaped the composition of the legislative chambers. Here, we outline the grounds for the removal of some of the affected members.

Senate Verdicts:

1. Elisha Abbo, Adamawa APC: The controversial legislator lost his seat after the Court of Appeal in Abuja declared Amos Yohanna as the winner of Adamawa North Senatorial District, citing electoral irregularities.
2. Darlington Nwokocha, Abia LP: The former minority whip of the Senate was sacked by the Court of Appeal in Lagos, which declared Augustine Akobundu of the PDP as the winner of Abia Central Senatorial District.
3. Abubakar Ohere, Kogi APC: Akpoti-Uduagan defeated Ohere in both the election petition tribunal and the Court of Appeal, resulting in his removal as the Senator representing Kogi West.
4. Napoleon Bali, Plateau PDP: Bali fell victim to the PDP crisis in Plateau State, leading to the Court of Appeal declaring Simon Lalong, a former governor, as the Senator for Plateau South.
5. Simon Mwadkwon, Plateau PDP: The former Minority Leader was affected by the PDP crisis in Plateau State, leading to the Court of Appeal sacking him and ordering a rerun within 90 days.

House of Representatives Verdicts:

1. Simon Bagos, Beni Lar, Isaac Kwalu, and Peter Gyendeng, Plateau PDP: The Court of Appeal in Abuja sacked these four members from Plateau State, affirming the impact of the PDP crisis on their positions.
2. Chijioke Okereke, Enugu Labour Party: The Court of Appeal sacked Okereke as the member representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji-River Federal Constituency, upholding the decision of the election petition tribunal.
3. Stainless Nwodo, Enugu LP: The Court of Appeal sacked Nwodo, representing Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani federal constituency of Enugu State, over alleged certificate forgery and irregularities.
4. Dennis Agbo, Enugu LP: The Court of Appeal in Lagos State sacked Agbo, representing Udenu/Igboeze North federal constituency of Enugu State, ordering a fresh election within 90 days.
5. Emeka Nnamani, Abia LP: Nnamani was sacked as the member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency over alleged certificate forgery.
6. Jingi Rufai, Adamawa PDP: Rufai, representing Mubi North, Mubi South, and Maiha federal constituency of Adamawa State, was sent packing, and the court ordered INEC to give a certificate of return to Jaafar Magaji of the APC.
7. Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso, Kano APC: Kwankwaso, representing Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam federal constituency in the House, was sacked, and the Court of Appeal asked INEC to give a certificate of return to Yusuf Datti, NNPP candidate.
8. Yusuf Bashir, Kaduna PDP: Bashir, representing Kauru federal constituency of Kaduna State, was removed, and the court declared Muktar Chawai as the member representing the constituency.
9. Jonas Okeke, Imo PDP: Okeke, representing Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma, Obowo Federal Constituency in Imo State, was sent packing, and the court declared Chike Okafor as the winner of the election.
10. Mohammed Salihu, Adamawa PDP: Salihu, representing Yola North/South federal constituency of Adamawa State, was sacked due to discrepancies in his certificate, and the court declared Abubakar Baba Zango as the new member of the Reps.

These court decisions have significantly impacted the composition of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, setting the stage for potential by-elections and reshaping the political landscape concerning the 2023 elections.