Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi has moved to the Court of Appeal after the High Court nullified his election.

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Mr. Abdi during the Monday hearing told the court that the High Court ignored crucial evidence during the petition challenging his election as Governor.

Mr. Abdi, through Senior Counsel Fred Ngatia said that the High Court misinterpreted laws and bypassed key evidence before invalidating his election on January 12.

Mr. Ngatia said that Justice Alfred Mabeya in his ruling focused on unsubstantiated claims that the governor lacked a valid university degree.

Mr. Ngatia told Justice Philip Waki, Milton Makhandia and Patrick Kiage that the High Court Judge was dealing with accusations of forgery and no evidence were presented in court to prove that his client did not have a valid university degree.

He said that such allegations should have been dealt with by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) tribunal board and not the High Court which lacks jurisdiction.

Counsel Ngatia said that his client has a bachelor’s degree in business administration, a post-graduate degree in international relations from Kampala International University and a teaching certificate from Kamwenja Teachers Training College in Nyeri.

The IEBC represented by lawyers Karori Kamau and Mahat Somane said Mr. Abdi had submitted certified copies of his degree certificate, transcripts and a Commission for University Education letter, confirming his papers were genuine.

Justice Mabeya in his ruling said that the Jubilee governor was not legally cleared to contest for the seat in the August 8, 2017, General Election.

The Judge further ruled that Mr. Abdi did not have a valid undergraduate degree certificate and that the election was marred by irregularities.

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