A'COURT REINSTATES KEBBI GOV

By NBF News
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• Dakingari
Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto yesterday quashed the judgment of the Kebbi State Governorship Election Tribunal, which nullified the election of the incumbent Governor, Usman Dakingari of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and made an order for fresh elections in 90 days. In his ruling, Justice Amiru Sanusi, ruled in favour of Dakingari and set aside the earlier judgment of the tribunal.

He maintained that the cross appeal was dismissed because of lack of merit and ruled three of the five issues, which were the grounds of the appeal in favour of Dakingari while two were ruled against him. Earlier, the cross appeal of the respondents led by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and its governorship candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Malam asked the court to declare Malam as the duly elected governor of the state, which was also ruled against. The counsel of the appellant, Mr. Yakubu Mai-Kyau (SAN) accepted the verdict of the court.

However, the counsel of the CPC, Mr. Ogene Nero rejected the judgment, stressing that they would appeal against it at the Supreme Court.

Kebbi State Chairman of the CPC, Alhaji Suleiman Nasiha, appealed to supporters to remain calm, assuring that the party would appeal against the ruling at the Supreme Court within the 21 days specified by the law. Meanwhile, Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko has congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo on their victory at the Supreme Court while appealing to opposition parties to partner with the President Goodluck administration to further enthrone democracy in Nigeria.

The governors expressed belief that politics should not be a do-or-die affair and commended the Nigerian Judiciary for showing that it was truly an impartial arbiter and a strong pillar for the growth of democracy and social justice.

In a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Press Matters to the Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad DanGusau and made available to Daily Sun in Sokoto yesterday explained that the essence of governance was to provide the needed social services to the people.

He maintained that the ruling by the apex court did not come as a surprise for he believed that victory would be on the side of the PDP. He therefore felicitated with Mr. President, the entire members of the party family and indeed the entire Nigerian nation on this historic landmark judgment.