APC guber primaries in Taraba nullified

The Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, Taraba has nullified the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election held in the state.

The election produced Senator Emmanuel Bwacha. However, David Sabo Kente, who also contested the ticket, decided to sue Bwacha and APC, claiming the primaries was conducted illegitimately.

The presiding judge, Justice Simon Amobeda, ordered that a fresh primary poll be conducted within 14 days of the judgment. He also said the party should determine the mode of primary election within seven days.

Amobeda cited the declaration by the Chairman of the Taraba APC Governorship Election Committee that election didn’t hold to buttress his position. The judge added there was no evidence to show that the party adopted  direct primary, as it was claimed.

Amobeda also held that the aspirants were not given equal opportunity to campaign.

He resolved that the weight of evidence before the court showed that no election was held and that the nomination of Senator Bwacha “was null and therefore set aside”.

“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 judge held.

The judge described the Taraba guber primary election held on May 26, 2022,as “sham,” adding that “the third defendant (APC) is restrained from presenting its candidate (Bwacha) to the first defendant (INEC) for the 2023 general election.

Nation