Ali Abare, Lafia
As the Nasarawa State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal resumed sitting, on Monday, on the Keffi East state assembly tussle, supporters of Engr. Mohammed Wada of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have tasked the court on the need to ensure fairness.
The supporters, who continue to appear at the sitting of the tribunal, in large numbers, travelling all the way from Keffi to Lafia, where the tribunal was located, drew the attention of the judge, Justice David Igoh, to the antics of some vested stakeholders from across the zone, including past and present National Assembly members, governorship aspirants as well as serving political office holders who are out to sabotage the electoral victory of the APC candidate.
Speaking on behalf of the supporters, on Monday, Bala Audu Mohammed, specifically mentioned some politicians from across the Nasarawa West zone who are hell bent on frustrating the electoral chances of their candidate.
READ ALSO: China seeks to deepen relations with Nigeria
“Engineer Wada enjoys massive grassroots support. The people are mobilising continuously towards ensuring maximum appearance at the tribunal.
“We are aware of some vested interests within the party that are working against the interest of the party just to frustrate Engr. Wada,” Mohammed said.
Engr. Wada had gone to the election tribunal to challenge the declaration of Abdulaziz Sule, (first Respondent) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) -second Respondent, as winner of the March 9 state assembly election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the third Respondent.
Recall that Justice Igoh during the tribunal sitting, last Thursday, stood down proceedings to wait for the arrival of the lead counsel to the first and second respondents.
Mohammed expressed fears that there is a sustained gang-up against Engineer Wada right from the constituency and this is being reinforced at the tribunal.
“Why would the judge stand down proceedings just to wait for the arrival of the lead counsel, a Senior Advocate, when other counsels are on seat?
“Not only that, you can see the array of persons that are showing interest in the petition, even appointed officials of the ruling APC who are in court to support the SDP candidate,” Mohammed stated.
He stressed that all that they demand is fairness from the tribunal as according to him, Engr Wada has solid grassroots support.
“Keffi zone is the turf of CPC before and now APC. Some stakeholders are only pursuing selfish interests and are working against our candidate,” he stated.
Speaking on the matter, lead counsel to the Petitioner, Dr. Mubarak Abikilukun, explained that the lead counsel to the first and second Respondents pleaded for the proceedings to be stepped down.
“The second Respondent this filed their replies to the petition out of time, outside of the mandatory 21 days.
“They, however, filed for the enlargement of time within which they can file their reply,” Abikilukun said.
He added that he has also filed a counter affidavit against same following which the tribunal adopted his argument, with the judge adjourning ruling in favour of the counter affidavit to May 27.
Abikilukun expressed hope that his application will succeed which will totally bar the second Respondent from making representation in the petition.
READ ALSO: Nigerian envoy reassures Falcons of President Buhari’s confidence
Also commenting, Barr. Usman Mohammed Elegu, APC state Legal Adviser, allayed the fears of the party’s supporters, stressing that there was nothing wrong with the tribunal stepping down proceedings.
“We are still on elementary proceedings, still settling issues of notice of preliminary objections challenging the jurisdiction.
“It’s a normal proceeding. If the court has the time, there is nothing wrong with that,” Elegu explained.
The APC candidate for the Keffi East seat had gone to the election tribunal to challenge the election of the SDP candidate in the recently concluded general election on the premise that Abdulaziz Sule was not duly elected by the majority of legal votes cast.
Engr. Wada is equally alleging that the SDP candidate election was invalid by reasons of substantial non compliance with the electoral act and guidelines.
