S’court affirms ex-commissioner as lawmaker representing federal constituency in Kaduna

The supreme court has affirmed Suleiman Lere as the representative of Lere federal constituency of Kaduna state in the house of representatives.

On April 11, the apex court dismissed the appeal of Ahmed Munir who contested the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside Lere.

The five-man panel of the court gave reasons for its earlier action on Friday.

Aliyu had won the primary poll that held in October but the APC sent the name of Munir to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the candidate for the constituency.

Dissatisfied with APC’s action, Aliyu, a former commissioner of water resources in Kaduna, challenged headed to a high court in the state.

The court, however, struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction. The ex-commissioner appealed the decision of lower court.

The appeal court upheld Lere as the candidate but Munir appealed the verdict.

Giving reasons for the panel’s decision, Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, a judge, said the position of appeal court is correct and it is the true position of the law.

The judge said it was strange that APC would forward the name of an individual who did not win the party’s primary polls as candidate of the party.

“There is absolutely no merit in this appeal,” Rhodes-Vivour said.

“There is absolutely no merit in this appeal. The judgement of the court of appeal is correct and is the true position of the law. Appeal is dismissed.”