S’Court dismisses APC’s appeal against candidate nomination 

The legal battle on the authenticity of the All Progressives Congress candidate for Jega-Aliero-Gwandu Federal Constituency of Kebbi State was on Friday laid to rest by the Supreme Court.

The apex court voided and dismissed the nomination of one Kabir  Jega whose name was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission by the APC as its candidate.

In a judgment by Justice Uwani  Abba-Aji, the Supreme Court dismissed the suit of the APC instituted to support the nomination of the unlawful candidate.

The apex court, while dismissing the APC’s appeal, restored  Mohammed Jega as the lawful and authentic candidate that should be recognised by the APC and INEC.

The upholding of Mohammed by the apex court was predicated on the ground that he emerged winner of the May 27, 2022 primary election of the party conducted in accordance with the provisions of the law by the National Working Committee of the APC.

Also, the purported nomination and submission of name of Kabir was thrown out by the court on the ground that he emerged winner from an unlawful primary election conducted by the State Working Committee of the APC.

The apex court maintained that by the provisions of the law, only the NWC of political parties are empowered to conduct primary elections for the purpose of nominating candidates for elections.

The judgment of the Court of Appeal which had earlier been delivered against APC and in favour of Mohammed was affirmed.

The apex court however, did not award cost against the APC.

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