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- Atiku Hails Judgements, Says It Is Undeniable Triumph For Constitutional Democracy
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- PDP Govs Forum Hails Supreme Court Judgement On Six States
The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday, January 12, 2024 delivered rulings on eight governorship polls that have been in dispute, throwing up no significant surprise.
The Matrix had earlier reported that the apex court affirmed the elections of Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State; Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State; Bassey Otu of Cross Rivers; Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State; Alex Otti of Abia State; Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.
Despite accusation by the opposition parties Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) that the ruling All-Progressives Congress might have pocketed the Supreme Court, the apex court delivered landmark rulings in favour of the opposition parties in Kano, Zamfara and Plateau States where the lower courts had earlier pronounced a contrary judgement.
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Reacting to the judgement, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the PDP in the last general election hailed the apex court’s rulings.
In a post on his X platform, Atiku described the rulings as a significant victory and an undeniably triumph for constitutional democracy.
“The Supreme Court’s decision represents a significant victory for the people of Bauchi, Plateau, Akwa Ibom, and Zamfara states and is undeniably a triumph for constitutional democracy.
I extend my congratulations to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, @Kyusufabba, of Kano State of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on his commendable legal victory. This moment also provides an excellent opportunity to restate my commitment to the idea that a unified opposition is crucial for strengthening democracy in Nigeria. I am more ready than ever to lead this endeavour, working alongside our esteemed leaders and governors for the betterment of our nation.
The Supreme Court’s ruling ensures the continuation of the high standards of governance that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has established in these states.
I call upon Governors @SenBalaMohammed of Bauchi, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Barr. Caleb Muftwang of Plateau, and Pastor @_PastorUmoEno of Akwa Ibom to view their Supreme Court victories as chances to further solidify and broaden the impressive governance they have already been providing.
READ ALSO: Bassey Otu Remains Cross Rivers Duly Elected Gov, Says Supreme Court
With the election phase now behind us, I am confident that the PDP will concentrate on its critical role as the principal opposition party in Nigeria, guided by its capable governors and myself” he wrote.
Meanwhile, the APC has demanded an apology from the PDP to the judiciary for its irresponsible and reckless attacks on that arm of government following its defeat in the last year’s general election.
The PDP had last year criticized the Supreme Court for upholding President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the presidential election.
The party leaders and supporters also accused the Court of Appeal and the various election petition tribunals when the rulings did not go their way after months of litigation arising from the elections.
However, the Supreme Court upheld the victories of PDP governors – Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) in the rulings delivered earlier on Friday.
It also affirmed the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, success in the poll.
Yusuf represented the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the election.
The court on Thursday validated the Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno’s victory in the state governorship election and that of Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State all from the opposition parties.
In a statement in Abuja, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the party welcomed the Supreme Court decisions on election petitions challenging the outcome of the governorship elections in the eight states.
The statement read: “Assuming that it has any spec of decency left, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must tender an unreserved apology to the courts and our judges for the senseless, irresponsible, reckless, and unjustified attacks it mounted against the judiciary throughout this electoral cycle.
“In Lagos, Ebonyi, and Cross River States, the Supreme Court upheld the election of governorship candidates of our great party. However, the appeals in Kano, Zamfara, Bauchi, Plateau, and Abia states were decided in favour of other political parties and their candidates.
“While the Apex Court’s decisions will undoubtedly elicit mixed reactions and reviews, the decisions are final and binding on all parties to the legal contests. The decisions today provide a strong affirmation of the authority, vibrancy, and independence of the judiciary.
“APC has been consistent in its position that the judiciary must be left alone to perform its important duty of resolving disputes, including electoral disputes, as constitutionally mandated. The decisions today must serve as a rebuke to political opposition figures who vilified and denigrated our courts when judgements were handed against them in these same matters.
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“We congratulate the winners, particularly our governors, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, and Bassey Otu of Cross River State, and wish them the very best as they continue to serve their states and country. We urge everyone to remain calm and continue to maintain peace” the statement said.
In a related development, the PDPD Governors’ Forum has expressed satisfaction with the verdict declared by the Supreme Court on the 2023 governorship elections in Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Plateau, Zamfara and Bauchi states.
The chairman of the forum, the governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, said the “will and votes of the greater majority in their respective states have been formally validated by the Supreme Court.”
The governor stated this in a statement issued on Friday by the Director General of PDP-GF, C.I.D. Maduabum.
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The statement reads partly: “These verdicts represent a triumph of democracy, rule of law, and due process in Nigeria. It reaffirms the sanctity of the ballot as the determining factor for democratic legitimacy.
“The Forum is further strengthened to continue to be a critical voice for the enthronement of good governance and the defence of the Nigerian people.
“The Forum prays for wisdom and God’s favour in the lives of the respective governors, as the affirmation of these mandates has cleared the path for them to continue in the enormous tasks of rendering selfless and excellent services to their people and taking their states to greater heights.”
