Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has described the tribunal judgement sacking the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, as a ridiculous political judgement that can never stand before men of good conscience and God.
Fayose, who maintained that there was a conspiracy by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government and a section of the judiciary against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), called on the Supreme Court to save the country from impending anarchy.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor wondered how a tribunal could make conduct of the PDP primary that produced Ishaku in Abuja an issue when the tribunal itself sat in Abuja.
He said: “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?
“Isn’t it funny that it is no longer about election rigging, but technicality of how PDP candidates emerged even when no one in the PDP went to court to challenge how Governor Ishaku emerged as the PDP governorship candidate?
“If insecurity could make Taraba State Tribunal sit in Abuja and not in Jalingo, how then can it be justified that the same tribunal that sat in Abuja nullified the governor’s election because the primary election that produced him too was held in Abuja?
“Is it not being manifested in this President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government that what is good for some people may not be good for others even though we operate the same constitution?
“To me and the teeming supporters of the PDP, this judgement is one that must not be allowed to stand. It is a clear miscarriage of justice and we will seek redress from the court of men and the court of God.”
While reiterating his commitment to speaking the truth in the overall interest of Nigerians, Fayose said: “If everybody is persecuted and intimidated to submission, I will remain resolute in my resolve to always say the truth before men and God.”
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged its members across the country, especially in Taraba, to remain undaunted as the appellate court would restore its well-deserved victory.
The call is contained in a statement by Chief Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of the party on Saturday in Abuja.
The party, however, kicked against the judgement in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Hajiya Aisha Alhassan.
PDP described the judgement as “another evidence of executive interference in the judiciary.’’
The party said the reason given by the tribunal for arriving at the “bizarre decision’’ was intriguing.
It stated that the judgement further exposed the contradictions and double standards inherent in most tribunal rulings against PDP’s interest recently.
“It is rather curious and an irony that the Taraba tribunal sitting in Abuja, on security grounds, faulted the conduct of PDP primaries shifted to the same Abuja on security reasons”, the party said.
PDP stated that if the tribunal faulted the party’s primaries as basis for its decision, it then meant that no APC gubernatorial candidate could stand the test of the primaries.
“This is so as APC never had acceptable primaries in any of their states.’’
PDP stated that it was totally confounded by the brazing “show of power by the executive.’’
It warned that the development clearly portends grave danger to the country’s democracy and indeed national cohesion and development.
Meanwhile, Ishaku has vowed to appeal the verdict.
Ishaku told a news conference in Jalingo on Saturday that he would appeal the verdict, adding that he believed that the Court of Appeal would reverse the judgement and give him back his victory.
Meanwhile, the verdict was greeted with mixed reactions as Alhassan’s supporters in Unguwangadi, Magami, Kasuwan-Yelwa, Sabon-Gari and Nyamu Sala areas celebrated, while others criticised it.
Alhassan’s supporters were seen on the streets chanting “Sai Mama’’, Maman Taraba Oyoyo” to show their happiness over the verdict.
Alhaji Ahmed Umar, a resident of Jalingo, said that the verdict was victory for democracy.
Also, a former senator representing Taraba Central, Alhaji Abubakar Tutare, said the ruling had given confidence to the common man about the judicial system.
The PDP Public Relations Officer in the North-East state, Mr Napoleon Adamu, told newsmen that people in the state should accept the verdict and cooperate with the winner.
However, Mr Hariman Bovoa, the National President of Mambilla Youth Progressive Association, criticised the verdict, saying it was biased.
Also, Mr Gibeon Kataps, former Secretary to the Taraba Government, said Ishaku remained the governor, until the determination of the case at the Court of Appeal.
The police command in the state had, therefore, warned that it would deal decisively with anyone who foment trouble in any part of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Joseph Kwaji, gave the warning in Jalingo.
The police image maker said the command had put in place adequate measures to maintain peace.
He added that the command had deployed its men to Wukari, Takum, Donga and Bali to ensure peace.
