The Supreme Court ended its legal dispute on Friday about the eligibility of the All Progressives Congress candidate for the Jega-Aliero-Gwandu Federal Constituency in Kebbi State.
The name of one Kabir Jega was presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the APC’s candidate, but the supreme court nullified and rejected such candidacy.
The Supreme Court dismissed the APC lawsuit brought to uphold the nomination of the illegal candidate in a decision by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji.
While rejecting the APC’s petition, the supreme court reinstated Mohammed Jega as the legitimate and genuine candidate who should be acknowledged by the APC and INEC.
Mohammed was upheld by the Supreme Court on the grounds that he won the party’s primary election, which was held on May 27, 2022, in line with the legislation by the National Working Committee of the APC.
The court also disqualified Kabir’s claimed candidacy and name submission on the grounds that he won an illegal primary election held by the APC’s State Working Committee.
The apex court argued that under the terms of the legislation, only the NWCs of political parties have the authority to hold primary elections in order to nominate candidates for office.
The Court of Appeal’s earlier ruling that had sided with Mohammed and against the APC was upheld.
However, the apex court did not impose costs on the APC.
