Taraba gov’ship: Appeal court reserves judgment on Agbu’s nomination

The Court of Appeal sitting in Yola, Adamawa State, has reserved judgment in the four appeals challenging the nomination of Col Kefas Agbu (Rtd) as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Taraba State. The appeals set to be decided by the appellate court panel presided over by Justice Hassan are CA/YL/170/2022, CA/YL/173/2022, CA/YL/175/2022, […]

The Court of Appeal sitting in Yola, Adamawa State, has reserved judgment in the four appeals challenging the nomination of Col Kefas Agbu (Rtd) as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Taraba State.

The appeals set to be decided by the appellate court panel presided over by Justice Hassan are CA/YL/170/2022, CA/YL/173/2022, CA/YL/175/2022, and CA/YL/176/2011.

The appeals were filed by Professor Joseph Albasu and Dr Hilkiah Bubajoda Mafindi challenging the ruling of a Federal High Court in Jalingo refusing their application for joinder in the suit against the PDP governorship primary.

The earlier suit was brought by Professor Jerome Nyameh challenging Agbu’s nomination as PDP candidate over violation of Part VII, Article 1 of the Electoral Guidelines for the Primary Elections of the PDP, 2022, having failed to resign before purchasing the forms.

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Nyameh submitted that the primary was held on May 25, which was only six days after Agbu resigned, and many days after the screening of aspirants on April 28, when he was still the state party chairman. Nyameh further submitted that Agbu only resigned via a letter dated May 17, 2022, which was received at the national headquarters on May 19.

Agbu polled 443 votes to come first; Albasu 31 votes, Nyameh 24 votes, Senator Danlami Joel Ikenya 11 votes and Mafindi polled six votes.

But in his application for a joinder, Albasu, through his counsel, Reuben Atabo (SAN), is contending that having come second, he ought to be declared winner of the primary after Agbu’s nomination is nullified.