Supreme court declares David Jimkuta as APC senatorial candidate for Taraba south

The supreme court on Friday declared David Jimkuta as the rightful candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the Taraba south in the February 25 elections.

NAN reports that Adamu Jauro, the judge, who delivered the judgement, held that it was not necessary to alter the verdict of the appellate court which set aside the decision of the high court for not conforming with the law.

The judgement, prepared by Centus Nweze, was said to have put aside the ruling of the high court for not corresponding with the law.

Danjuma Shiddi, member representing Wukari and Ibi federal constituency of Taraba, had earlier filed a suit seeking the reversal of the appellate court judgement which declared Jimkuta as the duly elected candidate.

Shiddi also solicited the acknowledgement of the federal high court ruling which upheld his nomination as the senatorial candidate of the APC in the February 25 election.

During the judgement, the apex court dismissed Shiddi’s appeal for being incompetent and lacking in merit.

In February, Hamman Barka, a judge of the court of appeal in Abuja, held that Jimkuta’s nomination was valid, noting that the primary election that produced him as the APC Taraba south candidate was conducted by the national working committee (NWC) of the party.

“Only the NWC of the APC has the powers, the rights, and vires to conduct a valid primary election for the party,” the court ruled.

Jimkuta was said to have won the APC primary election for Taraba south but was substituted with Shiddi by his party.

Displeased with the party’s swapping, he filed a case at the federal high court in Jalingo, seeking to be declared as the winner of the primary election.

He also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop recognising Shiddi as the party’s senatorial candidate for Taraba south.

During the primary election, Jimkuta was said to have scored 170 votes, while Shiddi polled 70.

Jimkuta, while reacting to the judgement, expressed appreciation to God and commended the judiciary for giving hope to the ordinary man.

“It is a victory for democracy, the people of Taraba south and the entire APC family,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jimkuta was declared the winner of the Taraba south senatorial district in the last national assembly election.

He polled 85,415 votes to defeat Darius Ishaku, governor of Taraba, who scored 45,708 votes.