Tribunal Ruling: Kebbi State Government Extends Hand of Friendship to Opposition

On Oct 9, 2023

The Kebbi State government has extended its hand of friendship to the opposition parties in the state, particularly the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), stressing the need for mutual understanding and unity to ensure the success of Governor Nasir Idris’s administration.

Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed-BK, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, made the appeal in a statement in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, on Monday.

He appealed to the PDP and all other political parties that participated and lost in the governorship election of March 2023 to work with Governor Idris to develop the state.

“The state government is pleased to announce that the victory recorded by Governor Idris at the Election Petition Tribunal on Thursday is a triumph for democracy, for the rule of law and the resilience of our shared values of freedom and collective sense of honour and dignity.

“As we all know, the four-month-old litigation filed by the PDP, challenging the election of Governor Idris as governor of Kebbi came to an end with victory as widely expected, tilting to the side of the APC,” the commissioner noted.

He observed that after the rigorous litigation, the rule of law had prevailed, signposting a victory for democracy, the people of Kebbi and the principles that guide the nation’s electoral process.

According to him, the victory underscored the resilience of democratic institutions and the commitment of the people of Kebbi to upholding the rule of law.

“The government acknowledges the valuable time and energy expended during the legal process and commends all parties involved for their commitment to a fair and transparent resolution.

“In the spirit of unity and the belief in the greater good for Kebbi, the state government wishes to extend an olive branch to the PDP and its governorship candidate and to encourage them to see this process and the way it has come to its nadir as conclusive and as a sign that the people have again spoken as encapsulated by the judgement of the tribunal.

“Inspite of the differences in political ideologies and the tension the whole process must have seemingly and understandably generated, the Kebbi State government maintains that there are neither victors nor vanquished in this electoral contest.

“We are all winners because in the end, we are a Kebbi State that desires all hands to be on deck to bring it out of the shackles of underdevelopment.

“It is now time to put aside partisanship and join hands for the collective progress of our great state,” he advised.

The commissioner restated his call on the PDP to gracefully concede defeat, “having come this far, having fought this good and in the end acknowledging the clarity of the legal outcome.”

Ahmed-BK noted that prolonging the matter further through additional legal avenues, though a right for the opposition, would not serve the best interests of the people because from the reasons adduced by the Tribunal, “this case is still destined for the same outcome regardless of the avenues available.”

He insisted that the good work, the development and fairness of the present administration in the state, so far, was a pointer to the fact that “it will, In Sha Allah, take Kebbi out of the woods to greater good for all.”

The comissioner noted that the present government was committed to fostering a spirit of unity, cooperation, and development for the benefit of every citizen.

“We believe that by working together, transcending political affiliations, we can overcome challenges and collectively build a brighter future for Kebbi,” he appealed.

The PDP governorship candidate, Aminu Bande, and his party had filed a petition, marked Number EPT/BK/GOV/1/ 2023, before the tribunal, challenging the victory of Idris, his deputy and the APC, alleging that the governor and his deputy forged their school certificates.

But the three-member panel of the tribunal led by its chairman, Justice Ofem Ofem, as well as Justice Celestina Dafe and Justice Daurabo Suleiman in their unanimous judgment said it was clear the governor and his deputy did not forge their school certificates, and the APC did not manipulate the election as claimed by the PDP.

“We have carefully examined the exhibits and agreed that there was no overvoting and forged certificates as claimed by the petitioners.

“They could not substantiate their evidence, and it failed woefully.

“I hereby uphold the election of the first and second respondents as duly elected governor and deputy governor of Kebbi,” the judge ruled.

NAN