Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa-Ibom and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, has been certified the legitimate candidate of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 National Assembly election by the Supreme Court.
The apex court, in a unanimous decision delivered yesterday by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, reinstated Akpabio as the APC’s candidate in the upcoming election, shortly after setting aside the judgment of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which had sacked Akpabio as the APC’s candidate in the said election.
The lower court erred in law when it asserted jurisdiction over a political party’s internal affairs, according to the Supreme Court. As a result, the Supreme Court overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision and upheld the decision of Justice Donatus Okorowo, who determined that Akpabio was validly nominated by his party. The Supreme Court also yesterday ended a protracted legal dispute over the authenticity of the All-Progressives Congress candidate for Kebbi State’s Jega-Aliero-Gwandu Federal Constituency in the next general election (APC).
The Supreme Court overturned and annulled the candidacy of one Kabir Labbo Jega, whose name the APC had given to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate.
The Supreme Court dismissed the suit filed by the party supporting the illegal candidate in a decision prepared by Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji.
While dismissing the APC’s petition, the Supreme Court reinstated one Mohammed Umar Jega as the lawful and authentic candidate who should be recognized by the APC and INEC.
The court upheld Umar Jega’s nomination on the grounds that he won the party’s primary election on May 27, 2022, which was conducted in conformity with the rules of the law by the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC).
The court overturned Labbo Jega’s claimed nomination and submission of his name on the grounds that he was the winner of an illegal primary election conducted by the party’s State Working Committee (SWC).
According to the court, only the NWC of political parties is authorized by law to hold primary elections for the purpose of selecting candidates for elections.
The Court of Appeal’s decision in favor of Mohammed Umar Jega, which had previously been given against the APC, was upheld. However, the Supreme Court did not impose costs on the APC.
