A Federal High Court in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital headed by Justice Simon Amobeda, has nullified the Taraba State All Progressives Congress (APC) election conducted on October 24, 2021, produced Barr. Ibrahim Elsudi, the state chairman of the party.
Delivering judgement on a case filed by some aggrieved party members over the processes that led to the elections, Justice Amobeda said the defendants had violated the guidelines of such elections as enshrined in the political party’s constitution.
He added that they had also conducted the election against the court order before the election.
However, after the judgment, the counsel to the defendant, Barr, John Odekena Esq. expressed dissatisfaction with the judgement and vowed to approach the appeal court after consulting his client.
“The court has given its judgement; however, we want to say that this is not the final court. We have the court of appeal and the supreme court, and we know that the supreme court has categorically, precisely and unequivocally stated in a plethora of cases that intraparty disputes are not issues where the court can prosecute openly because they are domestic issues.
“The same supreme court is still in existence. So in consultation with our client, we will be ready to roll into motion our appeal at the Court of Appeal. We will also remain undaunted and uncompromising until they make the final declaration on this issue; until justice is manifestly, undoubtedly and seen to be done to our client,” he stated.
On her part, Barr. Joy Ezekiel, the counsel to the plaintiffs, said the defendants had failed to officially notify its members of the said election within 24 hours before the election date as stipulated in the party’s guidelines.
She expressed satisfaction with the judgment, stating that justice had prevailed at the end of a battle that started last year.
Also baring his mind on the decision of the court, a member of the APC and contestant for the post of State Organizing Secretary in the said election, Hon Stephen Othaniel, expressed satisfaction with the judgement of the court, maintaining that democracy has come to stay through the defence of the judiciary.
According to him, people who felt they must negotiate the future of their great party, the APC, had been defeated. So members would now have to come back as a family and work towards claiming their victory in the 2023 general elections.
E/Suzan O.
