From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has told the Supreme Court to declare its 2023 Taraba State governorship candidate, Prof Muhammad Sani Yahaya, winner of the contest.
The apex had, last week, declared Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf as winner of the Kano State gubernatorial election.
Its Acting National Chairman, Abba Kawu Ali, in a statement, charged the Court to replicate the same feat in Taraba, claiming that Professor Bello defeated the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Kefas Agbu.
He said: “Supreme Court should in the Spirit of Decency, Decorum Discipline and Sanity declare Professor Yahaya Muhammed Bello of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) as the winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.
“It was audible to the deaf and visible to the blind that New Nigeria People’s Party NNPP and its candidate, Professor Yahaya Muhammed Bello won the March 18 governorship election in Taraba State by Scoring the highest lawful votes.
“The testimony was given by a respected Professor M A Yusuf, the Collation and Returning Officer For the Election in Taraba State in his Protest and Complain Letter that serves as Request for the Review of the Election Results by INEC before the announcement which was agreed upon by INEC Legal Adviser but most unfortunately,The Commission went ahead and declared Kefas Agbu of PDP as winner.
“The Gravity of the evidence of Poll Results manipulations which led to evident over voting from Wukari aided by shooting between the Army and the Police attached to INEC collation office.
“Duress and Tension was Alleged by the Collation and Returning Officer of INEC which made the Review of the Process impossible and necessitated the Request of the Review in Abuja and was accepted by all the party involved.
“The decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to announce the result in Abuja without carrying out the review bring a lot of doubt, skepticism and questions which led to the decision of NNPP and it’s Candidate to approach the Temple of Justice in Nigeria.
“Elections must represent the wishes and decision of the people, Election must be done in a decent, peaceful and transparent process that must be acceptable by all, not through the gun shooting, duress and tension as alleged by the Collation and Returning Officer of INEC in the Taraba State.
“It would have done our Democracy good and Reaffirmed Justice, Fairness and Equity, if the Tribunal and Appeal Courts were thorough on the complain of dispute and variance in IREV And Accredited Voter on BVAS as well as highly doctored Result Sheets from Wukari area of Taraba State.
“It is worthy of note that electorate have the right to choose their leaders through a transparent electoral process without being under duress and tension as well as get their results doctored in favour of another interest group or party.
“The Leadership of New Nigeria People’s Party is appealing to the Apex Court to restore the hope of Nigerians in the electoral system and process by giving critical look into the complaints of the good people of Taraba State who lawfully and genuinely voted for Yahaya Muhammed Bello of NNPP as governor during the March 18 governorship election in the state.
“This will in large extent normalise our electoral system and process and sanitise it reasonably for future elections,” he said.
He, also, petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), to sanction earring judges who flouted the electoral laws in the course of discharging their duties.
“While we have highest regard and hope in the judiciary, most especially the Apex Court, we want to use this occasion to call on National Judicial Council (NJC) to look into the activities of some Judicial Officers in Nigeria whose activities raised serious questions which is inimical to the integrity of not just the judiciary but our National and International Reputations,” he said.