Taraba APC Crisis: Guber aspirant files contempt suit against party, INEC, Bwacha

One of the gubernatorial aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State, Chief David Sabo-Kente, yesterday, filled a contempt suit against APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Senator Emmanuel Bwacha for violating Supreme Court’s orders.

Sabo-Kente, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja on the crisis rocking the APC in Taraba State, stressed that he would remain in the party and fight for justice and the enthronement of true democracy in the state.

Recall that Sabo-Kente, alongside four other aspirants under the platform of the APC, had boycotted the recent party primary held in the state on the grounds that it was illegal.

Also recall that the Supreme Court had issued a judgment nullifying the governorship primary election in Taraba, following a suit filed by Sabo-Kente, seeking the nullification of the primary that brought the supposed winner, Sen. Bwacha. He said the APC, INEC, APC NEC and others, were in violation of the Supreme Court order.

According to him, though the apex court granted all the reliefs he sought, it however, did not order the re-run of the election, and so the recent primary held in Jalingo was a clear violation of the court’s orders, and so five out of the six aspirants boycotted the election, leaving only Bwacha.

He said though he was happy that the right judgment was given by the highest court of the land overturning previous defeats, he noted that due process must be followed in doing things, saying that the orders of the court must be followed to the latter. 

Sabo-Kente, however, dismissed insinuations that his aim was to ensure that APC did not have a gubernatorial candidate in Taraba, saying it is a wrong notion as he is passionate about the party having been in the party for a long time.

He said, “But it seems the people want us to have a candidate without going through due process. You are aware of how the purported primaries were held. How can you drag seven trucks of military men and Buratai, the former Chief of Army Staff, to hold primaries which none of the candidates attended?

“Five of us are in the race with him, and by him, I mean former Sen. Bwacha. So, how can you hold an election where five of the six candidates did not participate?’’

“The Supreme Court clearly orders if it wants a rerun. Relief number eight was totally granted, but checking relief number eight, it explicitly delisted Emmanuel Bwacha from participating in the primaries and it also delisted our party from participating in the 2023 elections.

“So, how will an order from the highest court in the land be flouted by people?’’

Sabo-Kente insisted that he was a man who believed in the rule of law and so had returned to the court to file a contempt suit against all the parties in the alleged illegality.

Commenting on the currency crisis, the philanthropist noted that it was a good policy, but as it were with every major policy, people were bound to feel the pain.

“Of course, when there is a major currency change in a country like Nigeria, it is always difficult. It is a policy that is meant to better the life of Nigerians ultimately, though it affects everyone. And I want to believe the government did not just wake up to bring this policy into play,” he added.