Taraba: Supreme Court Gives Lack Of “Locus Standi” As Reason It Upholds Ishaku’s Election

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Monday, February 22nd, 2016

The Supreme Court Monday adduced lack of “locus standi” in the appeal filed before it, by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Governorship candidate, Hajia Aisha Alhassan in the last year poll, as the major reason, why it affirmed the election of Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State.

The apex Court had Thursday, February 11, 2016 quashed Alhassan appeal; upheld Ishaku’s victory and subsequently promised it would give reasons for its judgment today – Monday, February 22, 2016.

According to NAN, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, while reading the full judgement, held that the appeals and cross appeals, by the appellants lacked redeemable substance.

The judge also held that the Governor was duly sponsored by his party – the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest in the election, indicating that evidence brought before it confirmed Governor Ishaqu’s membership of the party.

“The matter is very simple, the apex court has ruled on matters of this nature at different occasions.

“There is no way a candidate of another political party who did not participate in the primaries of another political party could suddenly rise to challenge the conduct of such an exercise.

“It is therefore, clear that the appeals and all the cross appeals against the election of Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba have no redeemable substance,” Mr. Rhodes-Vivour said.

The Supreme court also established that the State’s Governorship Election Petition Tribunal was totally wrong by upturning Mr. Ishaku’s victory.

The lower court upturned the Governor’s victory linking its reasons among others, the choice of location of the opposition Governorship primary, which held in Abuja, in January 2015.

Alhassan, otherwise referred to as Mama Taraba is presently Minister of Women Affairs.