The Governorship Elections Petitions tribunals in Kano and Plateau States on Wednesday affirmed the election of Abdullahi Ganduje and Simon Lalong, both of the all Progressives Congress (APC), as governors of their respective states.
The three man tribunal that sat in Kano, in upholding Ganduje’s victory in the March 23 governorship election, dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the election Abba Kabir-Yusuf.
Delivering judgment, the tribunal chairman Justice Halima Shamaki, upheld Ganduje as the duly elected and held that PDP failed to prove all the allegations against him.
“It is only when a petitioner proves his case before the tribunal that he will have a case, the petitioners failed to prove the exact number of valid votes in each polling units,” he said.
In a unanimous judgment, the tribunal struck out some paragraphs of the petition because they were just speculations and held that the petitioners failed to give the number of votes for the March 9 election by tendering certified true copies of result sheets.
“Some Local Government Area (LGA) results like Wudil, Magwan, Nasarawa and Gama Ward presented were not stamped, apart from that, they were not true certified copies,” he said.
Shamaki said that the Gama Ward result presented was written with pen, which was carted away by the petitioners.
He also said that since results were carted away in some polling units leading to over voting, INEC had to order for a rerun according to the Electoral Act as amended.
“INEC has proved that the March 9 election was marred by violence that was why the election was cancelled in some units,” he said.
He held that the PDP candidate failed to establish his petitions against Ganduje, saying that the cancellation of 207 polling units was constitutional and valid.
“The petitioners failed to discharge the burden of proof placed on them by the law,” Shamaki said.
He called on the people of the state to stay in peace.
“Let there be peace, Kano is my second home.
“We have done our best, we still have the Court of Appeal, please let’s make peace, that is the only way you can repay us for staying in Kano for six months,” Shamaki added.
And in Jos, the Plateau State capital, the three-man tribunal headed by Justice Halima Salami reaffirmed the election of Governor Simon Lalong after dismissing the petition of Jeremiah Useni of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Sen. Useni and the PDP had gone to the tribunal to challenge the election of Lalong in the March 9, governorship poll.
Useni prayed the tribunal to declare him winner of the election alleging the disparity in the names supplied by Gov. Lalong in form CF001.
Delivering judgment, Justice Salami, held that the petitioners could not adequately prove their case.
The tribunal held that the information made in form CF001 by Lalong bothering on the disparity of name, was not fundamental in nature.
The tribunal also held that the petitioners, failed to prove their allegation of electoral irregularities bothering on falsifications of results and over voting against Lalong and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking after judgment, Mr Pius Akuboh, SAN, Counsel to the APC and Gov Lalong, commended the tribunal for the verdict.
Akuboh said that the tribunal commendably dealt with all the issues raised raised and canvassed by the parties from all angles.
“This includes the qualification of the second respondent to contest the election, allegation of over voting, corrupt practices and non compliance to electoral law.
“Painstakingly the tribunal considered interlocutory matters raised by the respective counsels to the parties.
“We are satisfied that the judgment is in our favour specifically with respect to the qualification of the governor.
“The tribunal unequivocally found as a fact, that the governor did not give false information fundamental nature in aid of his qualification,” he stated.
Also speaking, Mr Edward Pwajok, SAN, Counsel to Useni and the PDP, however said that they were not satisfied with the verdict of the tribunal.
”There are many bus stops in the judiciary and we will challenge the verdict in a higher court.
“The tribunal has done its work but it is a long journey, today’s verdict is just a first step.
“However, we appreciate the people of Plateau and to state that the first petitioner, Sen. J.T. Useni remains confident in the Nigerian judiciary.
“Thank God there are higher levels as the judgment itself has already formulated many grounds for appeal.
“Because some of the findings were not in sync with the conclusion reached.
“For instance, on the issue of the qualification of the governor, the tribunal found out that the lied on oath on the information he supplied in form CF00,” he stated.
Meanwhile President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Governors Ganduje and Lalong on their victories in the March 2019 gubernatorial polls at their respective State Governorship Elections Petitions Tribunals.
Buhari, who is travelling to South Africa on a State Visit, extended his goodwill to the duo on Wednesday shortly before departing Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The president, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja described the verdict of the tribunals as a victory for democracy.
He commended the people of Kano and Plateau States for maintaining peace and allowing the due process of law to prevail as well as respecting the role of the judiciary in a democracy.
Buhari urged the governors to unite their states by focusing more on inclusive and accountable governance and ensuring that all APC programmes targeted at improving the welfare of Nigerians were fully implemented.
He assured them that the Federal Government would continue to work with states to create economic growth that benefits everyone, and security for human lives, investments and the environment.
