The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal challenging Umar Namadi, the Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, as the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in the state for the forthcoming general elections.
The APC primary that selected Namadi as the party’s candidate for governor on May 26 was contested by Farouk Aliyu, a former member of the House of Representatives.
On September 13, a Federal High Court in Dutse had dismissed Aliyu’s lawsuit on the grounds that he had failed to support his claims with reliable proof.
Aliyu was denied the right to sue the governorship candidate, according to Hassan Dikko, the trial judge.
The Court of Appeals heard Aliyu’s case and affirmed Namadi’s candidacy in its decision on November 4th.
Aliyu was found to lack locus standi to bring the lawsuit, but a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal led by Ita Mbaba overturned that portion of the trial court’s ruling.
Aliyu, who was dissatisfied, appealed the appellate court’s decision to the Supreme Court.
Namadi also submitted a cross-appeal in which he disputed the part of the appellate court’s ruling that reversed the trial court’s ruling that Aliyu had the legal authority to launch the lawsuit.
Aliyu’s appeal “lacked merit,” according to the ruling given on Friday by a five-member bench of the Supreme Court.
“The appellant failed to prove the declarative reliefs he sought. This appeal lacks merit and it is hereby dismissed,” Ibrahim Saulawa, who read the lead judgment by Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, said.
Namadi’s cross-appeal was denied by the Supreme Court because the primary appeal had been rejected.