From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
The Chief Judge of Kebbi State, Justice Umar Abubakar, has inaugurated an appeal panel and five election tribunal panels for the forthcoming local government council elections slated for 31 August 2024.
Justice Abubakar named Justice Sabiu Bala Shuaibu as the Chairman of the appeal panel. Five sub-panels were also inaugurated.
The sub-panels include: Panel 1 and Panel 2 sitting in Birnin Kebbi, Panel 3 in Argungu, Panel 4 in Yauri, and Panel 5 in Zuru.
While addressing the panels, Justice Abubakar warned them to resist any temptation to compromise their integrity.
“The Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission, pursuant to the powers conferred on it by Section 38(1) of the Kebbi State Local Government Law, 2008, has fixed the 31st of August 2024 for the conduct of the elections into all 21 local government councils of Kebbi State,” he said.
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“The Kebbi State Local Government Law, 2008, in Section 43 thereof, provides for the creation of one or more local government election tribunals which shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all election petitions and complaints arising from the local government elections.
“It is pursuant to the provisions of this section that five election tribunals are created to handle election petitions throughout the state. Two tribunals will sit in Birnin Kebbi and one each in Argungu, Yauri, and Zuru. One appeal panel has also been created.
“I congratulate all of you for being found worthy of this very important assignment. The task before you, I must warn, is an onerous one. By this appointment to serve as chairmen and members of these tribunals, you are yourselves on trial. The public’s eyes and scrutiny will be shifted onto you after the conduct of the election and the announcement of the results.
“You must try to be above board. You must not disappoint me. You must creditably discharge the trust vested in you by carrying out this assignment to the best of your ability. You must resist all temptation from any quarters to compromise your credibility. I pray to Allah Almighty to guide and protect you in the discharge of this important assignment.”