Taraba governor, Ishaku, decries tribunal judgment

bibing

THE Taraba State governor, Dairus Ishaku, whose election was voided by the election petition tribunal, has said that he was not disturbed by the tribunal judgment.

And the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declared that it would no longer accept the situation where, according to it “the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government ‎connives with security agencies to rob PDP some of its states at the tribunals.”

But Ishaku, who was at the PDP National Secretariat to brief the party leadership on the development, said he was confident that the judgment would be upturned at the Court of Appeal.

He said: “I am not shaking; God is on His Throne. I will defend the mandate Taraba people gave to me. I have confidence in the Judiciary but there is corruption in the Judiciary just like in every profession, there are bad eggs.

“There are good drivers and there are bad drivers. It is unfortunate that this driver (the tribunal) was a bad driver. That judgment was an accidental discharge.”

The governor expressed surprise that a tribunal, which held that he won the election, could delve into pre-election matter.

He said the judgment was a rude shock to the people of Taraba, and advised President Muhammadu Buhari ‎to start his anti-corruption fight from tribunal judges if he wants to succeed in his war against corruption.

Meanwhile, not comfortable with the upheaval that erupted in some parts of Taraba State following the outcome of the tribunal ruling on the governorship election, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the state have called on government to as a matter of urgency intensify security so as to halt further lose of lives and property.

While calling on the supporters of the two parties in the state to restrain from acts capable of jeopardizing the growth of the state, the organizations reiterated their determination to condemned acts that are not in the interest of the state stating that “We will not hesitate to condemn acts that would endanger the fragile peace of the state.”

Briefing journalists in Jalingo, the state capital, the groups through the state co-ordinator of the Centre for Environmental Education Development (CEED), Raymond Enoch and that of Maigodiya Centre for Youths Development, Aliyu Tukur, admonished the people to “remain calm and avoid any act that might cause the destruction of lives and property.”

They also beckoned at the political parties affected to “prevail on their supporters to maintain the path to peace as it is only in an atmosphere of peace can government deliver its campaign promises to the people of the state.”

Ishaku told the party leadership that normalcy has returned to Wukari area of the state where there was violence, and charged the political class to ensure safety of lives of their supporters.

The PDP Acting National Chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus, who received the governor, stated that the party followed every stage of the Electoral Act and the PDP guideline in the submission of the governor and his deputy to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and said they were not rejected.

Secondus expressed shocked at the ground of the nullification of the election and said the law would take its course.

Wondering why the people have decided to take up arms against themselves, the need to always be on top “of issues at all time”, they opined, has become relevant, adding that “it is all about our leaders insisting that the law must take it course.”

Source: TheGuardian