2023: High Court Nullifies Tukur’s APC Candidacy In Nasarawa, Orders New Primaries

A Federal High Court in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital has nullified the candidacy of the All Progressive Congress (APC) west senatorial district of the state held by Shehu Tukur.

Naija News reports that Justice Nehizina Idumudia Afolabi, who presided over the case, ordered that fresh primaries should be conducted within 14 days using the authentic delegates list.

According to her, listening to arguments from both plaintiff and defendants, convinced the court that the delegates who participated in the June 4 primary election from Keffi and Nasarawa were fake.

Justice Afolabi explained that the primary election that produced Tukur as the APC senatorial candidate, didn’t follow due process.

Recall that Tukur emerged winner of the June 4 primary election in Keffi, where he had 179 votes to defeat Labaran Magaji who had 114 votes.

However, Magaji contested the outcome in court praying the court to nullify the process because 125 delegates from Keffi and Nasarawa LGAs were fake and declared him the winner based on genuine delegates who voted for him from Kokona, Karu and Toto LGAs.

Tukur is reported to be the preferred choice of the APC national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu to take over his seat in the Senate.

Meanwhile, counsel to Magaji, Ghali Umar Ahmed, after the judgement said “My Lord has considered all issues raised, both by the plaintiff and the defendant and today has come up with a decision which I think is very fair to both parties.

“But we will consider it and see if we are going upstairs.”

Ahmed disclosed that even though the court’s judgement is fair, he would have loved it if the court expunge the 125 fake delegates and declared his client the winner of the primary election.

Counsel to the Tukur, Dr Adekilekun Mubarak also noted that he will consult his client to decide whether to appeal the judgement or go for fresh elections as ordered by the court.