Bauchi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan for her victory at the Taraba governorship elections tribunal.
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Alhassan had challenged the election of Governor Darius Ishaku, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the April 11 election.
Senator Alhassan was the APC gubernatorial candidate in the last general elections which was nullified by a tribunal in Abuja on Saturday.
The governor was ordered to vacate his office by the tribunal on the grounds that he was not sponsored by PDP or any political party as demanded by law.
The tribunal therefore voided the votes of the PDP and Ishaku in the election saying “it is a waste” and declared the APC and its candidate, which came second, as the valid victor of the April 11 election.
He said with the judgment, the era of impunity in party primaries was gone and it would be a lesson not only for PDP but all political parties.
She will become the first elected female governor in Nigeria if PDP’s Darius Ishaku, the incumbent, does not appeal against the verdict.
However, counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents in the unanimous submissions prayed the court to dismiss the petition, describing it as lacking in merit.
It stated that the judgment further exposed the contradictions and double standards inherent in most tribunal rulings against PDP’s interest recently.
“Is it not being manifested in this President Muhammadu Buhari led APC government that what is good for a few people may not be good for others even though we operate the same constitution?”
Ali Sani, though his counsel, Festus Idepefo, urged the tribunal to declare the election inconclusive in the 54 polling units and order a fresh election to determine the actual victor of the election.
It also called on its members across the country, especially in Taraba State to remain undaunted as the appellate courts will restore its well-deserved victory.
The statement read: “How does the emergence of party candidate, which is the clear internal business of the party and a pre-election matter concern the APC and the Election Tribunal?”
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APC supporters were seen jubilating and shouting “APC!, Sai Baba!!”.
