The Federal High Court in Gombe has dismissed the certificate‑forgery case filed against New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) governorship candidate Khamisu Mailantarki. The suit, instituted on 4 August 2022 by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate Jibrin Barde, targeted the NNPP, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and Mailantarki.
During a weekend briefing for journalists in Gombe, Mailantarki’s lawyer, Herbert Nwoye, called the attempt to disqualify his client “baseless” because the plaintiffs could not substantiate their claim. He explained that the PDP sought to remove Mailantarki from the list of candidates for the 11 March governorship election, viewing him as a threat to their ambitions. Nwoye questioned why alleged internal issues within the NNPP should concern the plaintiff.
The judge dismissed the case on procedural grounds. The plaintiff failed to file the suit within the 14‑day period required by Section 285 after the cause of action accrued. According to Nwoye, the cause of action arose when the NNPP held its primary in May 2022. The PDP alleged that the NNPP did not submit a list of its registered members 30 days before the election, as required by law. However, the PDP waited until 4 August 2022 to bring the action, thereby losing the right to sue. The court upheld the preliminary objection on the basis of locus standi and the plaintiff’s non‑compliance with Section 285, resulting in dismissal.
Commenting on the judgment’s implications for his client, Nwoye said the court’s decision reinforces Mailantarki’s standing and legitimacy as the NNPP’s governorship candidate in Gombe State, and “portends brightness” for his political aspirations.
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