A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday nullified the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary that produced Senator Emmanuel Bwacha as its governorship candidate in Taraba State for the 2023 elections.
Bwacha was last month sacked by another Federal High Court in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, in a different case instituted by Chief David Sabo Kente, a governorship aspirant in the APC gubernatorial primary held on 26th of May this year.
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Monday’s ruling was instituted by the senator representing Taraba Central, Yusuf A. Yusuf.
The two courts, in their separate rulings, called on the leadership of the APC to conduct a fresh governorship primary in Taraba.
Justice Egwuatu had in his ruling in Abuja Monday, declared that based on submissions made before him by all concerned parties, the purported primary election conducted by APC on 26th of May this year upon which the party announced Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (APC, Taraba South), as its candidate for the 2023 gubernatorial elections, was a nullity.
Reacting, Senator Yusuf said the ruling was a victory for democracy driven by internal party democracy.
The lawmaker told journalists at the National Assembly that the primary that produced Senator Bwacha as the party’s governorship candidate was a charade, which made him to litigate against it.
He said, “The judgement given today on the case I filed against the purported winner of APC governorship primary in Taraba State on 26th May 2022, the party itself and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is a welcome development as far as internal party democracy is concerned.
“I am not against my party or any member but strictly for due process in doing things, which was thrown to the winds in the purported APC governorship primary in Taraba State.
“I am happy that the required windows have been provided for all interested parties, from the aspirants to the party executives and INEC, to do the right thing with the ordered fresh primary election.”