The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Murtala Karshi as the validly nominated candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Saturday February 12, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, council polls.
Murtala Karshi’s emergence as flag-bearer of the APC was voided by the Court of Appeal following an appeal lodged by Suleiman Gwagwa, an aspirant in the APC primaries for Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC.
The Supreme Court also imposed a N5 million fine on Gwagwa in favour of Karshi and the APC.
The decision of the Supreme Court laid to rest the uncertainty surrounding the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the Federal Capital Territory as two candidates lay claim to the chairmanship ticket in the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
In the lead judgement read by Justice Centus Nweze, the Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeal was wrong to have upturned the judgement of the lower court which affirmed Karshi’s candidacy of the APC.
Justice Babangida Hassan, of the FCT High Court had held that Gwagwa’s action was time barred and outside of the 14 days, statutorily allowed by the Electoral Act.
Also read: FCT Council Election: Gov. Ortom blows hot, vows to resist any form of malpractices
Justice Hassan noted that Gwagwa had filed his suit 16 days after the statutory days allowed by the Electoral.
The court therefore dismissed the suit on the grounds that it was statute-barred.
Not satisfied with the trial court’s decision, Gwagwa approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, where he sought to nullify the decision.
On December 3, 2021, the Court of Appeal dismissed the judgement of the FCT High Court.
Dissatisfied with the verdict of the Court of Appeal, Karshi approached the Supreme Court, which upheld his candidacy for Saturday’s elections.
Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie
