Appeal Court Affirms Elections of Ganduje, Tambuwal, Lalong…

The Court of Appeal yesterday affirmed the victories of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State as duly elected.

The judgements were delivered in Kano, Jos and Abuja. In Kano, the appeal tribunal dismissed the petition filed by PDP and its governorship candidate, Abba Kabir Yusuf and upheld the victory of Ganduje of the APC. The three-man panel, led by Justice Halima Shamaki Muhammad, said the petitioners failed to prove their case substantially.

The appeal tribunal held that INEC acted in accordance with the provisions of the law by declaring the March 9 election inconclusive and conducting the March 23 supplementary election.

In Abuja, the Sokoto the Court also upheld the election of Governor Tambuwal. The three-man panel led by Justice Abbas Abdullahi unanimously dismissed the petition filed against the election by the APC and its governorship candidate, Ahmed Aliyu. The panel held that the petitioners failed to prove allegations of over-voting and could not prove noncompliance to the Electoral Act.

However, counsel to the petitioners, Sam Kargbo, told journalists shortly after the judgment that the petitioners would appeal the verdict. He said the issues that were determined were few and narrow; and the parties themselves know that there is no cause for alarm. Tambuwal’s lawyer, Eze Duru on his part said, “we are filled with joy and happiness. This is a judgment that started six months ago, and today, we have seen the fruit of our labour.”

In Jos, the Plateau State capital, the appeal court also yesterday upheld the election of Governor Lalong of the APC. In a five-hour judgement, Justice Halima Saleeman, chairman of the tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the PDP and its governorship candidate, Senator Jeremiah Useni, for failure to prove their case.

Lalong extended a hand of fellowship to the opposition PDP and its candidate, Senator Useni. Lalong urged PDP and Useni to join hands with his administration to rescue the people of the state from underdevelopment, insecurity and poverty, adding that, “there is no winner or loser in this verdict; Plateau State is the winner

However, state chairman of PDP in Kano, Alhaji Rabiu Sulaiman Bichi, said they would appeal the judgement. “Based on our experience, we will appeal this judgement and I can assure you, we will regain our mandate at the Appeal Court. But our fear is that the INEC and the courts, may be, and are defining election in this country,” he said.

On his part, the state chairman of APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, expressed gratitude to God for the victory, saying it was not victory for Ganduje or the party, but a victory for the people of the state as well as a victory for democracy. THISDAY observed heavy presence of security within the state metropolis. Meanwhile, Ganduje has urged people in the state to remain law abiding and take the progress of the state as their top priority to ensure speedy development.