A Federal High Court in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, has sacked the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in the state, Emmanuel Bwacha.
Bwacha’s sacking comes after a petition by one of the aspirants, David Kente.
Kente had approached the court challenging the conduct of the primaries and prayed it to order a fresh primary election.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Simeon Amobeda ordered that fresh primaries must be held for the position within 14 days.
Amobeda ruled that “the defendant could not convince the court that there were primary elections through which he emerged as the flag bearer of the party.”
The Judge directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Bwacha.
Reacting to the judgment, the Counsel to Bwacha, Mr Ibrahim Effiong said that he would study the judgment and consult his client on the next action.
Similarly, the counsel to the APC, Mr Festus Idepefo, SAN also said he would consult his client after studying the judgment to decide the next line of action.
However, Kente on his part described the ruling of the court as a landmark judgment as it proves that the era of impunity was over.
He said that “the evidence before the court which influenced the decision has vindicated his position and that of most of the party supporters in the state that indeed there was no primaries.
” Therefore I urge the party faithful to Remain calm.”
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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