From Peter Azi, Jos
Azi Peter
The Governorship Tribunal, sitting in Jos, validated the victory of Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau state. Reading the judgment, which lasted for over four hours, chairman of the three man panel, Justice Halimat Salami dismissed the petition of Jeremiah Useini of Peoples Democratic Party, for lack of merit.
The judicial battle started when the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Lalong elected. Not satisfied with the outcome, the main opposition Party, Peoples Democratic Party and its Candidate, Senator Jeremiah Useini approached the Tribunal.
The grounds of the petition was that, the second respondent Lalong lied on oath and filled false information on form CF001 and the tribunal should made a substantial order and declare Useini winner of the election. Alternatively, the election was marred by irregularities and was not in compliance with INEC guide lines and electoral act. An order should be made for conduct of election in nine local governments which affected by over voting and mutilation of result sheets.
The petitioners called seventy one witnesses and tendered over three hundred exhibits. The Tribunal dismissed the petition in entirety that the petitioners witnesses and evidence were hearsay evidence and that the petitioners did not proved their case beyond reasonable doubt and the onus lies with them.
In his reaction, counsel to the All Progressives Congress, Chief Olusola Oke, Senior Advocate of Nigeria said anything that has the beginning must have an end. For us, we are very happy because this is double validation of our victory. INEC validated it and the Judiciary also validated it now and we believe that, the judgment is very thorough, we are giving glory to God and we commend the Judiciary.
Hon. Latep Dabang, is the APC Chairman, Plateau state, responds thus, we are excited and very happy that the election was very transparent only that you cannot stop people from weeping. The court has reaffirmed our victory, first was at the election and secondly, at the supplementary election.
Counsel to Governor Simon Lalong, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Pius Akumbo, I can confirm that the verdict is the thorough. This is the mother of all tribunal on the Plateau. It took us over four hours to listen to the judgment and the tribunal commendably dealt with all the issues raised and canvass by all the patties from all angles, including the qualification of the second Respondent visa vis form CF001,allegation of over voting ,corrupt practices and non-compliance to the electoral laws ,in the same vein, the tribunal painstakingly considered all the interlocutory matters raised by the respective counsels to the respective parties, from our part, we are satisfied with the judgment which is in our favour, specifically, the issue of the qualification of the governor.
The tribunal unequivocally found as the fact that the governor did not give any false information of the fundamental nature. The tribunal found as a fact that the certificate submitted alongside the form CF001 that of the governor and to that extend, the tribunal validated the fact that he qualified to contest the election with respect to the various allegations on criminality.
The tribunal found the fact that, those allegations were not proved or substantiate with respect to over voting, only isolated instances were said to be proved by the petitioners ,even at that, the final conclusion was very clear that the governor still led by 46,143 votes.
That Is a clear margin of lead never the less, we believe that Plateau still remain one irrespective of differences, we believe that the governor is magnanimous in victory and will extend his hand of fellowship to his political colleagues to the other side so as to move Plateau state forward and as you may have observed, this judgment was heralded by the early morning rain, that is so reassuring because heavens loves Plateau state and I believe a clear indication of a good thing that is about to happen on the Plateau. I thank you members of the fourth estate of the realm for keeping faith with the judiciary in this case from a start to the end. There was calmness from all the party supporters after the judgment.
