Court nullifies ‘sham’ APC Taraba governorship primary poll, orders fresh exercise within 14 days
Federal High Court in Jalingo, Taraba State, has ordered the immediate removal of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Emmanuel Bwacha from the 2023 General Elections.
This is also the court in its ruling directed the party to organise fresh primaries to be observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“No APC governorship primary election was held in Taraba. Therefore, the nomination of the second defendant (Bwacha) as the governorship candidate did not comply with the electoral act of 2022,” the Presiding judge, Justice Simeon Amobeda, ruled.
The judge who described the Taraba governorship primary election which held on May 26, 2022, as ‘sham,’ further ordered that ‘the third defendant (APC) is restrained from presenting its candidate (Bwacha) to the first defendant (INEC) for the 2023 general election.’
Also, Justice Amobeda ruled that ‘the third defendant shall within 14 days conduct a fresh election and shall determine the mode of primaries within seven days of the judgement.’
The court ruling follows a petition by one of the aspirants, David Kente, who had approached the court challenging the conduct of the state APC primaries and prayed it to order a fresh primary election.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Simeon Amobeda ordered that fresh primaries must be held for the position within 14 days.
Amobeda ruled that “the defendant could not convince the court that there were primary elections through which he emerged as the flag bearer of the party.”
The judge directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Bwacha.
Counsel to Bwacha, Mr Ibrahim Effiong said that he would study the judgment and consult his client on the next action.
Similarly, the counsel to the APC, Mr Festus Idepefo, SAN also said he would consult his client after studying the judgment to decide the next line of action.
However, Kente on his part described the ruling of the court as a landmark judgment as it proves that the era of impunity was over.
“The evidence before the court which influenced the decision has vindicated his position and that of most of the party supporters in the state that indeed there was no primaries.
” Therefore I urge the party faithful to Remain calm,” said Kente.
