On October 16, 2023, the Court of Appeal in Abuja certified Amos Yohanna, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, the winner of the February 25 senate election.

The court further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide Yohanna a Certificate of Return as the validly elected senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District.

Following his dismissal, Abbo stated that Akpabio was the architect behind his ouster from the Senate.

According to him, the appellate court fired him because he opposed Akpabio’s election as Senate President.

Reacting to this claim in a statement on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, Akpabio’s spokesperson advised Abbo not to pour his political frustration on his principal.

He said, “It is uncharitable for Senator Abbo to pour his frustrations on Senator Akpabio or anyone else and his action betrays the bile he has for Senator Akpabio.

“Senator Akpabio for emphasis has no ill-will towards any of his distinguished colleagues and as he has said in the past, the embers of the leadership election have been buried and replaced by the fraternal bond of nation building he shares with the overwhelming majority of senators.”

According to Eyibo, his principal had no impact on the court’s decision, and that “the outcome of any court proceeding is a function of the evaluation of facts and evidence within the province of the rule of law.”