The Supreme Court on Friday resolved long drawn legal battle between Kabir Labbo Jega and Mohammed Umar Jega of All Progressives Congress, APC, over who contest the House of representatives seat for Jega-Aliero-Gwandu Federal Constituency of Kebbi State.
Apex Court in unanimous judgment resolved the issue in favour of Mohammed Umar Jega as the APC authenticity of candidate for Jega-Aliero-Gwandu Federal Constituency of Kebbi State.
It voided the nomination of Kabir Labbo Jega whose name was fraudulently submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the APC as its candidate.
In a judgment prepared by Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji, the Supreme Court dismissed the suit filed by APC. Its leadership had brought the appeal in support of Kabir nomination.
The Apex Court while dismissing the APC’S appeal restored Mohammed Umar Jega as the lawful and authentic candidate that should be recognized by the APC and INEC.
The apex court judgement was predicated on the ground that Mohammed had emerged winner of the May 27, 2022 primary election of the party conducted in accordance with the provisions of the law by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC.
In the same vein, the purported nomination and submission of name of Labbo Jega was thrown out by the Court on the ground that he emerged winner from unlawful primary election conduct by the State Working Committee SWC of the party.
The Court maintained that by the provisions of the law, only the National Working Committee (NWC) of political parties are empowered to conduct primary elections for the purpose of nominating candidates for elections.
The judgment of the Court of Appeal which had earlier been delivered against APC and in favour of Mohammed Umar Jega was affirmed.
The Apex Court however, did not award cost against the APC.