Supreme Court sacks Emmanuel Bwacha as Taraba APC governorship candidate

The High Court has nullified the nomination of Emmanuel Bwacha as a gubernatorial candidate All Progressive Congress (APC) in Taraba State.

In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, a five-member court panel led by Kudirat Kekere-Ekun upheld the finding of the Federal High Court in Jalingo, Taraba State, that the APC did not conduct a valid governorship primary poll in the state.

The court gave judgment in a case that started with a suit filed by David Kente, one of the gubernatorial aspirants who Mr. Bwacha asked for the APC gubernatorial ticket.

In support of Mr. Kente’s claim, judge, Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court, Jalingo, on September 20, 2022 canceled Mr. Bwacha’s candidacy.

The court judge faulted the declaration of primary election results from Danbaba Suntai Airport, Jalingo as recorded by the returning officer who later left the country.

Consequently, Mr. Amobeda ordered that a new primary election should be held within 14 days.

However, on November 24, 2022, the Court of Appeal in Yola, Adamawa State, overturned the decision of the Federal High Court, reinstating Mr. Bwacha as the governorship candidate of the APC in Taraba State.

Dissatisfied, Mr. Kente, a journalism teacher, through his lawyer, Kanu Agabi, appealed to the Supreme Court.

In a ruling on Wednesday, the High Court said the Court of Appeal erred in setting aside the trial court’s decision, saying that Mr. Kente’s appeal was meritorious.

The governorship election is scheduled for March 11.

Also read: Taraba Senator dumps PDP for APC

Mr. Bwacha represents Taraba South Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

This paper reports that the APC primary election in Taraba was marred by fighting.

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During the primary, APC officials billed to conduct the primary election were taken to the state police command headquarters after some members of the party tried to mob people.