Justice Baba Ashigar of a Federal High Court in Birnin Kebbi has nullified the election of Haruna Argungu as the Peoples Democratic Party’s House of Representatives candidate for Argungu/Augie Federal Constituency.

He declared Sani Noma as the party’s candidate and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise him.

The judge gave the order following an application by Noma against Argungu, the PDP and INEC.

A copy of the court processes was obtained by journalists in Abuja on Monday.

Argungu, however, still has the option of appeal at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Noma had sought a declaration that by the provision of Section 84 (5) (c) (ii) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Article 50 (1) & (2) (d) of the constitution of PDP (As amended in 2017), part ii paragraph 7, part IV paragraph 2,6,9 and 10 of the Electoral Guidelines for the primary election for the party, the result of the House of Representatives primary election of the second defendant for Argungu/Augie Federal Constituency, conducted on May 23, 2022, by which he was declared winner was a valid result of the primaries.

He said by the result of the primary election of the PDP, he was the candidate of the second defendant for the said constituency in respect of the 2023 general elections.

He said the substitution of his name with that of Argungu was invalid, illegal and cannot be sustained.

Noma sought an order compelling the PDP to forward his name to INEC as its candidate for the election.

Granting the prayers, the judge ruled, “The court, having delivered its judgment, INEC (the third defendant) is ordered to accept and recognise the plaintiff, Sani Noma, as the only valid and lawful candidate of the PDP (second defendant) for the House of Representative representing Argungu/Augie Federal Constituency, Kebbi State in the 2023 general elections.”