By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
The tussle in the leadership of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has took another twist as the Area Council Election Tribunal in the election to the office of the Chairman has ordered a Stay of Execution on the judgment delivered by the Tribunal between the AMAC Chairman, Hon Christopher Zakka Maikalangu of the PDP and his challenger Mr Murtala Karshi of the APC.
This followed a Motion on Notice brought pursuant to Section 143 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as Amended and Sec285 Sub Section (7) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended by the Respondents, Hon Christopher Zakka Maikalangu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Subsequently, the Tribunal granted the Stay of Execution pending the determination of the Appeal filed against the said judgment at the FCT Area Council Election Appeal Tribunal.
The election tribunal sitting in Abuja on Friday to look into the February 12 election in which Hon Christopher Zakka Maikalangu won the election with a total vote of 19,302 votes while Mr Usman Karshi secured 13,249 votes.
However, the Tribunal granted over 21,000 votes to PDP’s challenger, Mr Murtala Karshi of the APC, with the current AMAC Chairman Zakka still maintaining 19000 votes, making Murtala Karshi the valid Chairman of AMAC in the process.