The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an appeal by house of representatives member representing Wukari and Ibi Federal Constituency of Taraba State, Danjuma Shiddi seeking to declare him as the APC’s flagbearer for Taraba South District.
The apex court in its judgment delivered on Friday, dismissed his appeal for being incompetent and lacking in merit.
The court upheld the court of appeal judgment in Abuja which had earlier upheld the nomination of David Jimkuta as the valid candidate of the APC in the February 25, senatorial election in Taraba South.
Shiddi, had last month approached the apex court praying for reversal of judgment of the appellate court and affirming the decision of a Federal High Court which upheld his nomination as candidate of the APC in the said election.
The judgment delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro as prepared by Justice Centus Nweze, observed that there was no need to tamper with the judgment of the appellate court which set aside the decision of the high court.
The five member panel led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, subsequently upheld the judgment of the 3-man panel of the appellate court that recognized the nomination of Jimkuta.
Justice Hamman Barka, of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, had in a judgment delivered last month, held that because the primary election which produced Jimkuta was conducted by the National Working Committee of the APC, his nomination was valid and in accordance with the relevant laws.
The court held that “only the NWC of the APC has the powers, the rights, and vires to conduct a valid primary election for the party.”
David Jimkuta had won the APC primary election for Taraba South but was wrongfully substituted by his party with the current member representing Wukari and Ibi Federal Constituency, Danjuma Shiddi.
Dissatisfied, Jimkuta headed to the Federal High Court in Jalingo, Taraba state, to seek redress, having won the party’s primary election with 170 votes against Shiddi who polled 70 votes.
He prayed the court to declare him the winner of the primary and stop the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognizing Shiddi, who came second, as the APC senatorial candidate for Taraba South.
Reacting to the judgment, Jimkuta said that, “It is a victory for democracy, the people of Taraba South and the entire APC family”, adding that the judiciary had again proven to be the hope of the ordinary man.
He called on his opponent to join hands with him and work towards taking Taraba State to the next level..
