By Onome Oghenetega
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 2019 general elections, Mr Lawal Usman Adamu has rejected the ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal on National/State Houses of Assembly sitting in Kaduna which upheld the victory of Malam Uba Sani, of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
In a judgment delivered on the 24th of August, the tribunal had upheld the victory of Senator Sani of the APC, saying that the PDP candidate, Adamu could not substantiate his claims that the election was marred by irregularities.
Adamu, reacting to the tribunal ruling, called on his teeming supporters to remain calm just as he described the judgment as travesty and misplacement of justice by the tribunal assuring that his legal team will appeal the judgment.
Lawal said, “Good day to you all. This is to share with you the information that has just been brought to my attention in respect of the outcome of my petition against the eligibility of Uba Sani at the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal for Kaduna state.
“While I entertain my reservation on the grounds for which the case was resolved in favor of my opponent, I will urge our teeming supporters and well wishers as well, to please remain calm as my legal team studies the judgment after which, I intend to proceed immediately on appeal where I am confident of getting justice.
“This step is necessary because if this apparent injustice is left unchallenged, our democracy in my view would have been greatly undermined”.
“We are willing and determined to pursue the judgment to its logical conclusions, Mr. LA stressed; “I am still urging you to remain law abiding as we shall pursue this cause vigorously to its logical conclusion”.
“Please keep faith in our ability and determination to continuously fight for the cause of justice! I thank u all for your never tiring support, concern and interest in this struggle. We shall prevail at the close of the day, God’s willing”.
Also a chieftain of the PDP, Comrade Musa Ali, who commended the Tribunal Judge for the exceptional courage in the handling of the cases before him but however urged the PDP candidate not to give up in the quest to reclaim his mandate at the Court of Appeal as the chances of securing victory, remains very bright.
The party chairman in Kaduna State, Mr. Hassan Felix Hyat in his reaction assured that Adamu would be victorious at the Court of Appeal.
According Hyat, “The party is standing strong by its candidate in pursuing the mandate given to the PDP and our Kaduna Central Senatorial District candidate, Mr. LA, by the good people of Kaduna state as they made a choice, during the last elections.”
Also, a PDP chieftain, Comrade Danjuma Bello Sarki, who described the judgment as a travesty and miscarriage of justice, said “How can somebody who brought his agents and voters to come out to testify and you end up describing such testimonies as hearsay?
“Were they expecting Mr. LA to be physically present at all then polling units across the Senatorial District or, is the Senatorial District Returning Officer to be everywhere? Such vital information can only be sourced from your polling agents and other voters present where elections are conducted.
“Voters from the various local government councils under the senatorial zone are the ones who witnessed everything that occurred including the polling units agents. They are the people who can truly say if there were elections or not, or, if there were discrepancies that fell short of the electoral act. If such was the case, that election ought to have been cancelled.”
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