Cross River North Bye-Election: Court Declares Jarigbe PDP’s Authentic Candidate

Obiajulu Joel Nwolu

Hon Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has been declared the legitimately elected candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, for the rescheduled Cross River North Senatorial bye-election set to take place tomorrow.

A High Court of the Federation Capital Territory (FCT) rendered the judgement declaring Jarigbe the duly elected candidate to fly the flag of the party.

In a judgement delivered by Justice Binta Mohammed, the court held that contrary to the claim of the claimant, John Alaga, the defendant (Jarigbe) did not supply any false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in his INEC Form CF001 by purporting to have sat for / and or obtained educational qualification making him eligible to contest for the Cross River North Senatorial Bye-election.

John Alaga had approached the court seeking to disqualify Jarigbe on the basis of allegedly false information and other claims.

Ruling on the suit, Justice Mohammed held that the claimant had failed to prove his case.

According to the judgement, contrary to claim, the primary election which produced Jarigbe as the Senatorial candidate for the Cross River North Senatorial was conducted with the authentic list of the Ward and Local Government Area Executives of the party.

Justice Mohammed further held that “the first defendant having won the highest number of valid votes at the said primary election is validly nominated as the candidate of the PDP for the Cross River North Senatorial Bye-election scheduled to hold on October 31, 2020, or any other date.

That the primary election of the PDP for the Cross River North Senatorial held on September 5, 2020, was duly nominated by INEC (2nd defendant) and therefore valid and in accordance with the law.

The Court, therefore, directed INEC, sued as the second Defendant, to include and publish the name of Hon. Jarigbe on the list of candidates for the by-election scheduled for 5th December, 2020. The INEC was also further ordered to give Hon. Jarigbe every other rights and privileges pertaining to his lawful qualification and nomination as the PDP candidate.

This post was written by Obiajulu Joel Nwolu.

The views expressed here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect our views and opinions.

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