The Federal High Court has dismissed a suit challenging the emergence of Baba Mallam Wali as the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Yobe State, ruling that the allegations against his nomination were not substantiated.
The suit was instituted by Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja, who challenged Wali’s nomination over alleged irregularities, including over-voting during the party’s governorship primary.
In its judgment, the court upheld the preliminary objection that the suit was statute-barred, having been filed outside the constitutionally prescribed period for instituting pre-election matters.
The court also examined the substantive allegations and held that Maihaja failed to provide credible evidence to establish his claims.
It further identified material contradictions and inconsistencies in the testimonies of the plaintiff’s witnesses, describing their evidence as unreliable and insufficient to sustain the allegations.
The court stressed that even if the suit had been filed within the legally prescribed timeframe, it would still have failed on its merits.
The development was contained in a statement signed by Shuaibu Abdullahi, the Federal High Court Press Secretary.
The judgment effectively upholds Baba Mallam Wali’s nomination as the APC governorship candidate in Yobe State.
