Appeal Court Delivers Ruling On Senator Bulkachuwa’s Election

The Court of Appeal, Abuja, has rejected a suit seeking the nullification of the elections of Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa (APC-Bauchi North).

The appellant, Alhaji Usman Tuggar, had asked the court to sack the senator stating that Bulkachuwa was not the proper candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the senatorial seat.

Reacting to Thursday’s ruling, Tuggar, through his counsel Chike Okafor, vowed to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling of the Appeal Court.

He said: “I won the Primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Bauchi North Senatorial district election with over 54,000 votes cast at the said Primary election.”

Tuggar alleged that Bulkachuwa was handpicked by the leadership of the party to replace him, the supposed winner of the primary election that held on October 3, 2018.

Tuggar had approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, asking the court to declare that he was the valid winner of the APC primary election and therefore ought to have his name forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

But the Federal High Court, in its judgement, dismissed the suit, saying it was statute barred since the plaintiff failed to institute the action within 14 days after APC forwarded Bulkachuwa’s name to INEC.

Not satisfied with the ruling of the lower court, Tuggar approached the Appeal Court, requesting it reject the ruling of the trial court and to enter judgment in his favour.

But in a unanimous judgement delivered on Thursday, Appeal Court led by Justice Akomolafe Wilson upheld the decision of the high court.