Taraba APC squabble: Court set date for judgment.

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

The Federal High Court in Abuja has set November 15 as the date for judgment in a suit filed by Senator Yusuf Yusuf seeking the annulment of the May 26 Taraba All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary.

Yusuf, a Senator representing Taraba Central and a governorship aspirant in the contested election, sued the purported winner, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the declaration of Bwacha as the winner.

When the case was called for hearing yesterday, Mr Ibrahim Bawa (SAN), counsel for the plaintiff, told the court that his client maintains that the APC did not hold a primary election in Taraba State.

According to him, the APC announced that direct primaries would be held in only three states, and Taraba was not one of them.

He also stated that, despite the fact that the appeal panel formed to hear complaints stated that no primaries were held, the defendants insisted on reviewing the report.

Bawa also claimed that the Federal High Court in Taraba State had recently nullified the election and ordered a new election in a similar case.

Mr Festus Idepefo, SAN, counsel for the APC, told the court that he had provided evidence to counter the plaintiff’s claim that no primary election was held.

“In response to this allegation, we have displayed the election results in all 168 wards in Taraba, displaying the number of registered voters.”

“In this case, we would expect the plaintiff to present evidence of voters who were disenfranchised, but no such evidence is before the court.”

In response to the issue of a similar judgment by a Taraba court, Idebefo stated that the Taraba case was different from the current case.

He also contended that the claim of no signature on the committee’s report amounted to forgery and falsification, a serious charge for which the plaintiff must provide proof.

Mr. E. A. Ibrahim, Bwacha’s counsel, told the court in his submission that he filed 459 exhibits on his client’s behalf.

“The exhibits consist of result sheets for various wards and local government areas,” he explained.

He requested that the case be dismissed.

Mr N.T Abubakar, counsel for INEC, told the court that his client would follow the court’s decision.

After hearing all of the arguments, Justice Obiora Egwuatu set November 15 as the date for judgment.