An appeal court panel has
withdrawn from a case challenging the verdict of a lower court on the All
Progressives Congress (APC) primary poll in Zamfara state.
The Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) has said the APC in Zamfara will not field candidates because
its inability to hold a successful primary election.
But two high courts gave
different judgments on the matter.
While the Abuja federal high
court upheld INEC’s decision rejecting APC candidates in the state, a high
court in Zamfara ordered the electoral commission to accept the candidates of
the faction of Abdulaziz Yari, governor of the state.
Kabir Marafa, serving senator and
governorship aspirant, had appealed the judgement.
At the court on Monday, Muhammad
Nuhu, counsel to Marafa, alleged that the three-man panel had received a bribe
of $3 million.
Nuhu said that had made made them
lose confidence in the panel. The lawyer asked the appeal court president to constitute
a new panel that will entertain the matter.
“My client is not comfortable
with them and urge the president of the court of appeal to constitute a new
panel to entertain the case,” he said.
Following the allegation made by
Marafa’s lawyer, Ahmed Belgori, head of the panel, disqualified himself and his
colleagues.
Yari whose preferred candidate is
Muktar Idris, finance commissioner, has threatened that election will not hold
in the state if APC candidates are not allowed to participate.
Marafa, Mansur Dan-Ali, defence
minister; and six other aspirants have
asked the National Judicial Council (NJC) to intervene in the appeal of Yari
seeking to enforce the judgement of the Zamfara high court.
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