Tribunal Upholds Kefas Election as Taraba Governor

Wole Ayodele in Jalingo

The Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jalingo has affirmed Dr. Agbu Kefas of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the 18th March, 2023 gubernatorial election in the state.

The three-man panel of Justices headed by Justice G.A. Sunmonu held that the petitioners, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and its candidate, Prof Sani Yahaya, failed to prove allegations of over voting against Kefas and the PDP.

In a unanimous judgement that lasted over three hours, the panel held that the petition brought before it lacked merit and therefore dismissed it accordingly.

Addressing Journalists at the Executive Chamber of the government house, Kefas extended a hand of fellowship to the NNPP and its candidate, Prof Sani Yahaya, and urged them to join hands with him to develop the state.

He appealed to them not to proceed on further litigations and accept the judgment as the will of God in the interest of the people of the state saying resources for further litigations can be channeled for the betterment of the people.

According to him, “I want to sincerely appreciate and thank the Justices for delivering this sound judgment. I am very happy and the people of Taraba are also very happy with it.

“I hereby extend my hand of fellowship to Prof Sani Yahaya and the NNPP to join hands with me to develop the state. Our people and our state needs urgent development and it is important for all hands to be on deck to achieve that.

“I also appeal to them to shelve further litigation in the interest of the people of the state. The resources for litigations can be channeled for the betterment of the people. We are all brothers and we’ll remain so”

All efforts to reach Prof. Yahaya for his reaction proved abortive while his lawyers also refused to comment or disclose their next line of action.