Jalingo – Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba has promised to appeal the verdict of the Elections Petitions Tribunal which nullified his election as governor.
The tribunal on Saturday in Abuja quashed the victory of Ishaku of Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) and declared Sen. Aisha Alhassan of All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the 2015 governorship election.
Ishaku, who told a news conference in Jalingo on Saturday that he would appeal the verdict,
added that he believed that the Court of Appeal would reverse the judgment 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 criticise 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 told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) 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 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 an interview with NAN 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.
Meanwhile, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 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 signed by Chief Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of the party on Saturday in Abuja.
The party, however, kicked against the judgment by Taraba Gubernatorial Election Tribunal judgment in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Hajiya Aisha Alhassan.
PDP described the judgment 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 judgment 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.
