Governorship Election Tribunal Opens Hearing On Petitions Between J.T Useni vs Gov. Lalong.

Governorship Election Tribunal Opens Hearing On Petitions Between J.T Useni vs Gov. Lalong.

By Moses Gbande

The Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Jos, the Plateau State on Tuesday commences inaugural sitting on application brought before it by the Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory ,FCT , Sen. Jeremiah Timbut Useni of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, challenging the victory of Governor Simon Bako Lalong of the All Progressives Congress ,APC.

The Tribunal during her inaugural sitting pronounced J.T Useni and PDP as petitioners and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as first respondent with Governor Simon Lalong and APC as 2nd 3rd respondents, respectively.

The Chairman of Governorship election tribunal ,Justice Halima Salman sued for the cooperation, understanding of the members of the Bars for them to discharge their Judicar function effectively without any hitches .

She explained further that the tribunal will be willing to deliver her mandate without fear or favour to any of the parties with the mandate given .

There were little disagreements between petitioners Counsel, the INEC, and the Chief Lawmaker of the State, the Attorney General and Comssioner for Justice, Plateau state on Grounds of certain misconceptions.

The Counsel to Jeremiah Useni, PDP,Mike Ozekhome disagreed with the INEC that they are big masquerade set by the federal government to carry out setting Functions of conducting free,fair and credible election in strengthening the tenets of democratic process .

According to him, “the reasons why PDP approach this tribunal was because INEC has failed to conduct free and fair election as they departed from the credibility of ensuring that the election was done in a manner that can’t attract litigations” .

Ozekhome commended the supreme court judgment over the Zamfara state election which has help to redefined the country intrrnal democracy when it past a consequential order that all the votes cast for the APC was considered as a waste as the votes was awarded to PDP .
According to him ,the supreme court has demonstrated that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man.

He called on the election petition tribunal to show transparency and deliver judgment that can make them write their names in the history of the country.

He faulted the statement made by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Plateau state that politicians always go to court to seek relevance in subsequent elections.

He said it is incumbent of politicians to go to court ,if the votes of people are allow to count and are counted by the body entrusted with thr cinduct of the Elections do the needful, no one would want go to tribunal ,” I take it that let the will of people prevail in electing the candidates of their choice no one can come to approach tribunal”.

Mike Ozekhome told the tribunal that law is a noble profession so, we most not try to create unnecessary frivolous applications and arguments that can delay them but the 180 days is still sacrosanct because the whole burden of given out credible judgment depends on the judicial functions for effective delivery of judgment without fear or favour to any group .

Meanwhile ,counsel to the second respondent ,INEC , Barr. T.Y Akinwwade told the tribunal that as the election umpire they are nit partisan and ready and prepared to cooperation with the tribunal to allow their decision to prevail.

He said Plateau state is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria in spite of the skirmishes we are recently experiencing ,so we assure the tribunal of the peaceful deposition of the state that the state is still safer than other states .
The attorney general of Plateau state,Chris Ahmadu welcome the teams of the tribunal to Plateau state and urged that they should discharge their function effectively without any hindrance ,as he promised to give them maximum assistant .

“We are ready to consider that justice come to the right person who deserved it ,through out your stay in Plateau state we are willing to ensure the safety of your lives .