2023 Polls: Tension in Courtroom As Judge Gives Final Judgement in Suit Seeking Matewalle’s Disqualification
- Governor Bello Matewalle remains the legitimate gubernatorial candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC)
- This follows the ruling of a High Court sitting in Abuja dismissing a suit seeking his disqualification
- This suit was filed by the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of the 2023 polls
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FCT, Abuja - The federal high court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking the disqualification of Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara as the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
The ruling was issued by Justice Inyang Ekwo on the premise that the suit was an abuse of court procedure and lacked competence.
Source: Twitter
As reported by Daily Nigerian, the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1622/2022, included INEC, APC, Matawalle and his deputy, Mohammed Gusau Hassan as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.
It also included all the senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates in the state.
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Ex-governor Yari included in disqualification suit
Meanwhile, the 5th and 7th defendants, included ex-governor Abdulaziz Yari, a senatorial candidate and Kabir Marafa and ex-lawmaker seeking to go back to the green chamber.
The PDP, in the motion, asked the court to determine whether the APC, which adopted the indirect mode of primaries for the selection and nomination of its choice of candidates shall democratically elect delegates to vote at its convention, congress, conference or meeting convened to nominate candidates for elections into any elective office.
It said the question was upon a proper construction and interpretation of the combined provisions of Section 84 (1), (2), (5) & (8) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and other enabling laws in that behalf.
The party, therefore, sought an order nullifying the purported sponsorship and/or nomination of the 3rd to 38th defendants by the APC (2nd defendant) to INEC for the 2023 general elections into the respective positions of the elective offices in Zamfara.
It also sought an order of injunction restraining INEC from according recognition to APC and all its candidates in the Feb. 25 and March 11 polls, among others.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ekwo upheld all the preliminary objections raised by APC and its candidates.
The judge agreed with the defence that the provision of Section 285 (14) (c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which the PDP relied on as giving them the locus standi (legal right) in the case did not avail them.
Taraba Politics: After Supreme Court’s Verdict, Aspirant Serves APC, Bwacha Fresh Lawsuit
In another development, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha's quest for power in Taraba state has once again experienced a huge setback.
This is as an APC governorship aspirant in Taraba state, a few days before the 2023 general election, dragged Bwacha and the ruling party to court.
Bwacha has continued with his guber campaign in the state, even after the apex court nullified his nomination as the APC guber candidate in the state.
Court Gives Verdict on Suit Seeking Wike’s Suspension, Removal From PDP
Meanwhile, a court in Abuja has stopped the PDP from suspending or expelling the governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, from the party.
The PDP chieftain had approached the court through his legal counsel led by Dr Joshua Mus, SAN, to restrain the national leadership of the party from suspending or expelling him.
At the resumption of the suit on Tuesday, the judge ordered parties in the suit not to take steps that would render the court’s judgement “worthless.”
Source: Legit.ng
