Supreme Court dismisses government candidate Taraba APC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the nomination of Senator Emmanuel Bwacha as the All Progressives Congress gubernatorial candidate for Taraba state.

Judge Adamu Jauro in a verdict upheld the decision of a federal high court in Jalingo, annulling Bwacha’s selection as the party’s candidate.

The apex court overturned the judgment of the Yola Division of the Court of Appeal, which reinstated Bwacha on November 24, 2022.

A five-member Supreme Court panel upheld the court’s verdict, which ordered new primary elections within 14 days.

The apex court agreed with the Federal Supreme Court that there were no valid primaries in the state.

The Supreme Court also agreed that the results of the primaries had been fabricated and fraudulently allocated to the aspirants in favor of Bwacha.

“The appeal is upheld and the parties bear their respective costs,” the apex court ruled.

The Court of Appeals, Yola Division had previously reinstated Bwacha as a candidate for the party’s governorship.

In a unanimous decision, the three-member panel headed by Judge Tani Hassan overturned the Federal Supreme Court’s judgment and ruled in favor of Bwacha.

The Supreme Court ruling followed a lawsuit filed in court by one of the candidates, Sabo Kente, who told the court that no primaries for governor had been held in Taraba.

Kente commented on the verdict, describing it as a landmark ruling that brought hope to the people of the state.

In his response, Bwacha said: “There is nothing to do but go back and do what the court has asked us to do, which is to hold new primaries.us. Simple. We will obey the apex court.