A House of Representatives candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, for Gwandu Federal Constituency in Kebbi State, Abubakar Labbo Gwandu, has sued the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over his alleged illegal replacement.
Labbo also joined Muhammad Umar Jega and Mansur Musa Jega as defendants in the suit filed before the Federal High Court in Birnin Kebbi.
He alleged that he won the ADC’s legally conducted primary election for the constituency but was subsequently replaced by Muhammad Umar Jega.
According to him, Jega was later replaced by Mansur Musa Jega as the party’s candidate for the same constituency.
Labbo alleged that the replacements were carried out without his knowledge or consent, claiming that financial inducements were used to facilitate his removal as the recognised candidate.
“I won the primaries but was later replaced with Umar Jega, and he was also replaced by Mansur Musa Jega after allegedly giving a huge graft to Wambai, who facilitated my replacement after I was declared by INEC as the winner of the primaries,” he said.
The candidate said he approached the Federal High Court to challenge what he described as an injustice and seek the restoration of his candidature.
He added that the case had its first hearing before the court proceeded on vacation.
Labbo maintained that he was neither consulted nor asked to consent to the replacement, insisting that he remains the legitimate candidate produced by the party’s primary election.
