Yohanna Replaces Abbo as Senator for Adamawa North

Following the Court of Appeal’s annulment of Elisha Abbo’s election, Amos Yohanna has taken the oath of office as the new Senator for Adamawa North Senatorial District. The Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, swore him in at the plenary session on Wednesday.

Yohanna, who belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emerged victorious over Abbo, who belongs to the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the February 25, 2023, presidential election.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Abbo the winner, leading Yohanna to contest the result at the tribunal.

The tribunal rejected Yohanna’s petition for being unmeritorious, but he appealed the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

The appellate court, in a verdict delivered on Monday last week, reversed the tribunal’s decision and directed INEC to issue a Certificate of Return to Yohanna as the lawfully elected Senator for Adamawa North.

The court relied on Section 137 of the Electoral Act, 2022, which states that only valid votes should be counted in an election.

The court subtracted the invalid votes from both parties and discovered that Yohanna and the PDP won the election by a majority of legal votes.

Abbo, who had previously switched from the PDP to the APC, called the court’s verdict a coup on democracy and vowed to run again in the next election.

He also advised his supporters to remain calm and peaceful.

Yohanna, on his part, expressed gratitude to God and his constituents for their support and assured them of his effective representation at the Senate.

He also committed to working with other lawmakers to advance good governance and national development.