Group urges reversal of Taraba tribunal verdict

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FOLLOWING violent protests that engulfed Taraba State as a result of the sack of governor Darius Ishaku by the election petition tribunal, the Taraba Volunteer Group (TVG) has said that only an upturn of the verdict by the appellate court could restore peace to the state.

The group, which frowned at the tribunal ruling that ignited upheavals in the state, said it believed that normalcy would “definitely be restored in the state by the appellate court.”

Speaking at a press briefing in Jalingo yesterday, the group’s Public Relation Officer, Moreinu Dauda and other members of the group, observed that had the tribunal tread the path of Justice, the crisis that erupted as a result of the ruling would have not occurred.

While calling on the people of the state to remain calm, they stated that Ishaku “remains the governor of the state and would continue to work round the clock to restore peace and bring about development of the state.”

Citing various legal authorities among which is Okagdibo Vs Chidi, the group said the tribunal has no legal backing to pronounce all the votes cast for Ishaku as “wasted votes.”

“The utterances of the tribunal panel where they said our votes are wasted votes was the major comments which triggered the crisis in Wukari, because the people came out en-mass to cast their votes for Governor Ishaku during the last election.”

The judgment of the tribunal, according to the group is “an attempt to rob the people of the state the mandate given to governor Ishaku. This judgment negates the very tenets and principles of democracy, which is government by the majority of the people.”

Source: TheGuardian