By Godwin Agia, Jalingo
The Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo on Wednesday has reserved judgment in two separate suits challenging the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC), House of Representatives primary elections in Taraba State.
The suits relate to the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing and Ardo-Kola/Karim Lamido/Lau Federal Constituencies.
The plaintiffs, Hon. Princess Leah Olusiyi Solomon and Hon. Job Julius Saleh, are asking the court to invalidate the primaries conducted by the APC in their respective constituencies and to grant the reliefs sought.
Hon. Solomon is challenging the APC primary for Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency, while Hon. Saleh is contesting the validity of the party’s primary for Ardo-Kola/Karim Lamido/Lau Federal Constituency.
After the adoption of final written addresses by all parties on Wednesday, the presiding judge, Justice Mashkur Salisu reserved judgment and said the date for delivery would be communicated to all parties.
Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, counsel to the plaintiffs, Pius Damba Pius, expressed confidence that the court would rule in favour of his clients based on the evidence presented.
On the Ardo-Kola/Karim Lamido/Lau case, the lawyer said the court was shown video evidence which, according to him, proved that no valid primary election was conducted.
“Video evidence tendered before the court today showed that no valid primary election was conducted. All the individuals featured in the videos testified before the court and maintained that no primary election took place.
“There was no witness who came before the court to testify otherwise. We believe the court will deliver judgment accordingly based on the evidence before it,” he said.
On the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency, Pius argued that documentary evidence obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, showed a major discrepancy in dates.
“Documentary evidence from INEC indicated that the primary election was conducted on November 18, whereas the party’s candidate had allegedly been declared winner on November 16. That discrepancy is significant and we are optimistic the court will grant all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs,” he added.
PD Pius also responded to objections raised by the defence regarding the video evidence, explained that both the video recordings and their certified written translations had been admitted by the court as exhibits.
According to him, the exhibits are public documents that can be obtained through the court by interested persons, including journalists.
He further dismissed claims that the videos lacked dates, stating that digital recordings automatically retain the date and time they were created.
The court said parties would be notified once the judgment date is fixed.
