The Peoples Democratic Party has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress, has no valid nominated candidate for the rescheduled Saturday, March 18, 2023 governorship election in Taraba State in tandem with the judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on February 1, 2023, in suit No SC/CV/1564/2022.
The PDP also drew the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the people of Taraba State and the general public to note that the import of the judgement of the Supreme Court is to the effect that the APC cannot validly field a candidate in the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Taraba State, owing to the failure to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 with regards to the conduct of its governorship primary in the state.
Recall the Supreme Court had last Wednesday nullified the nomination of Emmanuel Bwacha as the governorship candidate of the APC in Taraba State, by a five-member panel of the court led by Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
Speaking in a statement the PDP through its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Wednesday in Abuja, pointed out specifically, the Supreme Court’s reaffirmation of the provision of Section 84 (13) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Ologunagba stated according to the provision of the Electoral Act “Where a political party fails to comply with the provisions of this Act in the conduct of its primaries, its candidate for election shall not be included in the election for the particular position in the issue.
“Section 84 (13) of the Electoral Act is quite clear on the effect of failure to comply with the provisions of the Act and the Guideline of a Political Party in the selection or nomination of a candidate for election. Its Candidate shall not be included in the election for the particular position in the issue.”
The spokesperson of the party further remarked that the implication of the Supreme Court’s Judgment, therefore, is that INEC is effectively restrained from accepting or recognising any governorship candidate from the APC for the March 18, 2023, governorship election in Taraba State.
He pointed out that “INEC must therefore be guided by the hierarchy of courts in Nigeria and the finality of the pronouncements in the Judgment of the Supreme Court on any issue or subject upon which it has ruled, ordered or given judgment.
He advised the people of Taraba that any vote therefore cast or credited to the APC on March 18, 2023, governorship election in Taraba State will be treated as a wasted vote.
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