PDP to Appeal Tribunal Judgement Affirming Election Kaduna Governor

John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State has rejected the judgement of the governorship election petition tribunal affirming Uba Sani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of March 18 poll.

The tribunal in its judgement delivered on Thursday, via Zoom, upheld the election of Uba Sani as governor of the state.

In a two against one dissenting verdict, the panel ruled against the PDP and its candidate, Isah Ashiru, for not filing a pre-hearing application at the stipulated time.

The tribunal led by Victor Oviawie said the petition was considered abandoned as argued by the APC lawyers.

On the merit of the case, the tribunal held that if the petition had not been dismissed on technical grounds, it would have ordered a supplementary election in 22 polling units within 90 days.

However, reacting to the judgement in a statement yesterday in Kaduna, spokesperson of the PDP in the state, Alberah Catoh, said the party will seek redress at the Court of Appeal.

According to him, a review of the verdict by the party’s lawyer indicated that the judgement did not meet the requirements of substantive justice.

Catoh maintained that the verdict was not in alignment with extant electoral laws, guidelines and regulations.

He said “the party has accordingly directed its lawyers to appeal the judgement at the Court of Appeal, within the timeframe specified by law.”

He called on teeming members of PDP supporters across the state to be calm and of good cheer, in the belief that though the walk to justice is slow, they would reach their destination.

Meanwhile the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has asked the defeated PDP governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, Isah Ashiru, to stop “misleading the public” on the outcome of the judgement of the tribunal.

In a statement yesterday the state Secretary,  Yahaya Baba Pate, alleged that Ashiru issued a statement after the tribunal judgement, “mischievously” informing his supporters that the tribunal nullified Governor Sani’s election.

The statement called on Ashiru to “refrain from spreading misleading information about the court judgement” and join hands with Governor Sani to move Kaduna State forward.