The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has declined to nullify the candidacy of Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state as the All Progressive Congress candidate for the forthcoming election.
In a suit brought before the court by the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate Mohammed Barde, he sought to disqualify the Governor from participating in the governorship election slated for March 11.
Mr Barde had instituted the suit against Governor Yahaya, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC.
He alleged that the governor lied on oath in the documents he had submitted to INEC.
The defendants prayed the court to dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction; they argued that the PDP and its members lacked the legal right to institute an action to challenge the nomination of a candidate by another political party.
Read more: Appeal Court sets aside nullification of Akwa Ibom APC governorship primary
Their lawyer argued that the suit had become statute-barred since it was not filed within 14 days after INEC published the governor’s name as candidate for the election.
They further argued that only members of a party and its aspirants can challenge the outcome of a primary election or the nomination of a candidate.
In her ruling, Justice Binta Nyako upheld the defendants’ preliminary objection and dismissed the suit for lack of competence.
While striking out the case, she dismissed the allegation against the governor of submitting forged documents to INEC.
