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| Bauchi Gov,, Bala Mohammed |
The Appeal court sitting in Plateau State has upheld the decision of
the election tribunal on the election of Governor Simon Bako Lalong of
Plateau State and that of Senator Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state on
Friday.
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| Gov Simon Lalong of Plateau State |
Justice Halimat Saleeman, leading 5-man Judges, in a unanimous
decision of the tribunal threw out the petitioner’s case on the grounds
that the petition, stating that Governor Simon Lalong was eminently
qualified to contest for the 2019 governorship because the highest
requirement for him to contest for election is WACE, GCE which he
obtained in 1980 .
One of the contending issues in the petition of the PDP against APC
candidate was the alleged non-qualification of Governor Lalong to
contest the governorship elections, because he, Governor Lalong, changed
his name from Sule Simon Bako to Simon Bako Lalong.
The panel of five Judges at Appeal Court ruled that there was no law
that prohibits anyone from changing names, once there was a court
affidavit to attest that it is the same person bearing the new name.
Counsel to the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic
Party (PDP), in Plateau State, said his client would not accept the
judgement of the Appeal Court.
Barr. Edward Pwajok, SAN, said the team of lawyers for the PDP and
its candidate were not satisfied with the decision of the Appellant
Court, and “would approach the Supreme Court for justice.”
According to Pwajok, the PDP candidate, Gen. Useni, won the elections
but that INEC declared his opponent Simon Lalong of APC winner of the
said poll.
In his reaction to the judgement, deputy governor of Plateau State,
Prof. Sonni Tyoden, called on their opponents to join hands with their
administration to join their hands to develop the state.
However, counsel to the APC and Governor Lalong, Garba Pwul SAN, said
the verdict of the Appeal Court was an affirmation of the Plateau
electorates who elected them.
Barr. Pwul said his team of lawyers was ready to prosecute the case at the Supreme Court.
The counsel to APC however said the approach of the PDP to the
supreme Court might be fruitless efforts, according to him the decision
of the Supreme Court might not be differ from the two Courts and INEC.
It will be recalled that, the low tribunal had sent parking the
petition of Gen Jeremiah Useni and PDP; Similarly the appeal court
sitting in Jos subsequently re-affirmed the victory of governor Lalong
as declared by INEC and the lower tribunal.
There was jubilation by APC party supporters in Plateau state, singing songs of victory.
In another ruling the Appeal Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State, on
Friday upheld the election and return of Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir as
the duly elected Governor of Bauchi State as declared by the
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC
While delivering its judgment on Friday, the 5-man panel led by
Justice O. A Otisi held that all the grounds of appeal filed before the
court by the appellants lacked merit and thereby dismissed them.
Counsel to the Bauchi state Governor, Chris Uche, hailed the judgment
describing it as a victory for democracy calling on the people of
Bauchi State to continue to support the administration.