By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Fadehan Oyeyemi
Published on 2024-01-17 12:17:34
The Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Aminu Abdullahi Alkali, is optimistic that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Kefas Agbu will emerge victorious at the Supreme Court in a case brought against them by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and its governorship candidate, Prof Yahaya Sani. The NNPP and Sani are contesting the victory of the governor and the PDP in the March 18, 2024 gubernatorial election in Taraba State.
Aminu Abdullahi Alkali, who was present at the Supreme Court to witness proceedings in the appeal filed by the NNPP and Sani, expressed his confidence in the justice system, stating that there can never be a miscarriage of justice. The lead counsel to Agbu and the PDP, Kanu Agabi, SAN, requested the apex court to either strike out the appeal or dismiss it outrightly, arguing that the case lacked merit and substance.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also adopted the arguments put forth by the governor’s lawyer in resolving the dispute on the governorship election. Despite this, the lead counsel to the NNPP and Sani, Olusegun Jolaawo, SAN, appealed to the Justices to allow the case of his clients and grant all the reliefs they are praying for.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had previously affirmed the election of Kefas Agbu as governor of Taraba State. The appellate court held that Agbu was lawfully declared the winner of the March 18 governorship election and dismissed the appeal brought forward by the NNPP and Sani for being incompetent and lacking in merit.
The three-member panel of the appellate court held that the allegations of non-compliance, irregularities, and other malpractices were not proven by the appellants in line with the provisions of the law. Additionally, the court faulted the appellants for not providing a complete record of proceedings and not leading oral evidence to support their allegations.
In September 2023, the Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal also dismissed the petition filed by the NNPP and its governorship candidate for lacking in merit. With these decisions from various levels of the judiciary, the Deputy Governor of Taraba State remains hopeful that the PDP and Governor Kefas Agbu will emerge victorious at the Supreme Court.
