JUBILATION AS NIGER ELECTION TRIBUNAL DISMISSES ALIYU'S PETITION
The premises of Niger State High Court, Minna, was thrown into spontaneous jubilation while the city of Kontagora in Niger State went agog as the Election Petition Tribunal in the state dismissed the petition filed by former Senator Nuhu Aliyu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and upheld the election of Senator Ibrahim Musa of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) for Niger North Senatorial District.
Justice Kingsley Udeh, the tribunal chairman, relying on section 65, paragraph one of the constitution, said the tribunal does not have the jurisdiction under the electoral act to look into the case of forged fake certificate as presented by the petitioner, saying it was purely a criminal case.
On the alleged irregularities in the election, Udeh stated that the evidence of the petitioner's witness could not be relied upon as he was not physically present at the entire polling units, but depended on the information he received from the party agents.
The tribunal said the petitioner had not proved the irregularities beyond all reasonable doubt as required by the electoral act, so 'the petition is hereby dismissed'
In a similar development, the election petition tribunal also dismissed the petition of Duba Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the election of Honorable Idris Garba of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), citing inconsistency in the petition as the ground of the dismissal.
Addressing the press after the tribunal judgment, the victorious Ibrahim Musa said the judgment was well intended and confirmation of his confidence in the sanctity of the rule of law.
He said despite the involvement of the Niger State Command of the Police in the petition where he was hounded and disgraced, sleeping for several days behind bars on a matter already before the tribunal, the tribunal was still very courageous to deliver judgement in his favour.
He thanked his numerous supporters, loyalits, and his party, who stood by him throughout his trvails and the tenure of the matter at the tribunal, promisisng not to disappoint the people as he settled down to engage in the law making process at the Senate.
On his part, chairman of the CPC in Niger State, Shuaibu Umar, thanked the tribunal for its courage to deliver judgement in favour of his party, despite intimidation and harassment suffered by the victorious senator in the hands of the agents of the state while the tribunal proceedings lasted.
Umar enjoined supporters of the party across the country to hold on to their beliefs in the judiciary, believing that despite the gross erosion of confidence of Nigerians in the judicial system, there exists some Judges, who still play by the oath of their offices.
Recalled that while the Nuhu Aliyu petition was being handled at the tribunal, Niger State police command had arrested and bundled senator Musa before a Chief Magistrate court, from where he was sent to detention on the allegation of tax certificate forgery.