The Supreme Court on Wednesday nullified the nomination of Senator Emmanuel Bwacha as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Taraba State.
Justice Adamu Jauro, in a judgment, affirmed the decision of a Federal High Court in Jalingo which nullified the selection of Bwacha as the party’s candidate.
The apex court set aside the judgment of the Yola Division of the Court of Appeal, which had on November 24, 2022, reinstated Bwacha.
A five-man panel of the Supreme Court upheld the judgment of the trial court which ordered a fresh primary election within 14 days.
The apex court agreed with the Federal High Court that there was no valid primary election conducted in the state.
The Supreme Court also agreed that the results of the primary elections were concocted and fraudulently allocated to the aspirants in favour of Bwacha.
“The appeal is allowed and parties bear their respective costs,” the apex court ruled.
The Court of Appeal, Yola Division had earlier reinstated Bwacha as the governorship candidate of the party.
In a unanimous decision, the three-man panel led by Justice Tani Hassan set aside the judgment of the Federal High court and ruled in favour of Bwacha.
The High Court ruling followed a suit filed before the court by one of the aspirants, Sabo Kente, who told the court that no governorship primary election was held in Taraba.
Reacting to the judgment, Kente described it as a landmark judgment that brought hope to the people of the state.
In his reaction, Bwacha said, “There is nothing to do other than to go back to do what the court asked us to do which is to conduct fresh primary elections. Simple. We will obey the apex court.”
