The Supreme Court of Nigeria has nullified the nomination of Senator Emmanuel Bwacha as the Gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Taraba state in the forthcoming election.
On Wednesday, Justice Adamu Jauro affirmed the Federal High Court’s decision in Jalingo, nullifying the selection of Bwacha as the APC governorship candidate in the state.
The Apex Court set aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Yola Division, which had, on November 24, 2022, reinstated Emmanuel Bwacha as the governorship candidate of the APC.
A 5-man Apex court panel aligned with the lower court’s decision, which declared that there were no valid primary elections conducted in Taraba state, ordering a fresh election within 14 days.
The panel also agreed with the lower court that the results of the primary elections were fraudulently allocated to the aspirants in favour of Senator Bwacha.
The Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeal erred when it set aside the trial court’s judgement, holding that Mr Kente’s appeal was meritorious.
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What transpired
David Sabo Kente, one of the aspirants, had filed a suit before the federal high court, submitting that no election was held in Taraba.
On September 20, 2022, Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court nullified Mr Bwacha’s candidature
However, on November 24, 2022, the Court of Appeal in Yola voided the Federal High Court’s decision and restored Mr Bwacha as the APC’s governorship candidate in Taraba State.
A three-man panel of the appellate court led by Justice Tani Yusuf Hassan unanimously set aside the judgement of the Federal High court and ruled in favour of Bwacha.
Not satisfied by the judgement, Mr Kente subsequently approached the apex court and lodged an appeal seeking to overturn the appellate court’s decision.
The Apex court, in its decision, held that “the appeal is allowed and Parties bear their respective cost” Consequently, it nullified the nomination of Emmanuel Bwacha as the governorship candidate of APC in Taraba State.