Governorship election tribunal inaugurated in Kaduna

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Athree-man panel of the election tribunal handling the petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Isa Ashiru, alongside other political parties was inaugurated in Kaduna on Thursday.

The PDP had challenged the victory of the Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with claims that the last governorship election in the state was manipulated in favour of the incumbent governor.

In his inaugural speech, the chairman of the panel, Justice Victor O. Oviawe, promised to ensure that the tribunal upholds and works within the ambit of the provisions of the constitution.

According to Justice Oviawe, “The Tribunal will be just, and fair and do the right thing in the interest of the public.”

Speaking further, he sought the cooperation of the bar to enable the court to make timely delivery in line with the provisions of the electoral act.

In his remarks, the chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Tajudeen Muhammed, assured the panel of the NBA’s support, adding that the bar would give the utmost cooperation to the bench throughout the process of the case.

Other members of the panel are Justice D.A. Damulak and Justice N. Nonye.

The tribunal also said it would be sitting daily to ensure its task was completed within the stipulated time.

The leading counsel to Governor Uba Sani, Bayo Ojo, assured them of their cooperation and committed to defending their clients appropriately.

The leading counsel to the PDP gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 election, Samuel Atung, said they have been assured by the tribunal at its inaugural sitting that there would be justice, saying that as members of the bar, they have abiding faith in the tribunal that justice will be served.

By Musa Baba Adamu

Senator Nicholas Tofowomo representing Ondo South in the National Assembly, has stated that he would rather retire from politics than abandon the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which has provided him with significant benefits.

The Senator emphasized the need to reassure his constituents and the PDP following the defection of Senator Ayo Akinyelure from Ondo Central to the All Progressive Congress, APC, during a Senate plenary on Wednesday.

Though Tofowomo commended Akinyelure’s representation of the people of Ondo Central, he wished him well in his new political party.

He said: “I will rather leave active politics than leave the PDP through which God has made me. I was a two-term commissioner for transport in Ondo State on the platform of the PDP. I obtained God’s mercy thereafter to become a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the same PDP.

“I am grateful to God for fulfilling most of my desires within the PDP. As a result, I want to assure my constituents and the party leadership that I have no intention of leaving the PDP for any other political party.

“While it’s true that our party is currently experiencing some challenges, particularly in Ondo State, I recognize that these are internal issues that are common to all political parties and can be resolved amicably.

“As for my elder brother, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, who recently left the party, I wish him well and pray that God will continue to bless him for his contributions to the growth and development of our party and the Ondo Central region, regardless of where he finds himself in the future.”

By Christiana Ekpa

Ahead of the November governorship election, the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Lokoja I and II State Constituency in the last general election, Hon Ahmed Shehu Yabagi and Hon. Ishaiku Kashim Musa have dumped the party and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.