JUST IN: Court nullifies APC primaries in Yobe

The Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital has nullified the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections of two House of Assembly Constituencies.

Justice Fadima Murtala Aminu in her judgement said the All Progressive Congress in the state grossly violated section 84(14) of the Electoral Act 2022 as it relates to non-compliance with the guidelines for the conduct of the primary elections.She ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary to fill the vacant positions within 14 days from the date of the judgement.

The affected constituencies include Fika East and Jakusko House of Assembly constituencies.

The Nation recalled the APC on May 26, 2022 conducted a primary that produced Yakubu Suleiman as Fika/Ngalda(Fika East) Assembly candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Sale Budde as Jakusko Assembly Candidate for the party.

The duo of Musa A Yusuf, who also contested for Fika/Ngalda Assembly Constituency and Hon Yau Usman Dachia for Jakusko Assembly Constituency was dissatisfied and subsequently approached the Federal High Court to seek redress.

The case of Abubakar Jinjiri against Bashir Machina was also decided by Justice Fadima Aminu in the same court.The plaintiff, Abubakar Jinjiri, filed a withdrawal of his case against Bashir Machina, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the APC over his senatorial matter.

Barrister Usman Lukman Nuhu, counsel to Abubakar Jinjiri told the court that a notice of discontinuance had been filed and served on the defendants in the matter.

Justice Aminu ruled that Jinjiri has the right to file the notice of withdrawal and that his notice of discontinuance was valid.

Barrister Nuhu said he had his client’s instruction to withdraw the suit and prayed the court to discontinue the case and make an order of striking it out.

Machina’s counsel, Ibrahim Bawa SAN who was held brief by Barrister Mohammed Ngumurumi prayed the court to dismiss the case instead of striking it out.