From Yakubu Busari, Jos
Gov Simon Lalong of Plateau State and his Bauchi counterpart, Bala Mohammed
The Appeal court sitting in Plateau State has upheld the decision of the election tribunal on the election of Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State and that of Senator Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state on Friday.
Justice Halimat Saleeman, leading 5-man Judges, in a unanimous decision of the tribunal threw out the petitioner’s case on the grounds that the petition, stating that Governor Simon Lalong was eminently qualified to contest for the 2019 governorship because the highest requirement for him to contest for election is WACE, GCE which he obtained in 1980 .
One of the contending issues in the petition of the PDP against APC candidate was the alleged non-qualification of Governor Lalong to contest the governorship elections, because he, Governor Lalong, changed his name from Sule Simon Bako to Simon Bako Lalong.
The panel of five Judges at Appeal Court ruled that there was no law that prohibits anyone from changing names, once there was a court affidavit to attest that it is the same person bearing the new name.
Counsel to the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Plateau State, said his client would not accept the judgement of the Appeal Court.
Barr. Edward Pwajok, SAN, said the team of lawyers for the PDP and its candidate were not satisfied with the decision of the Appellant Court, and “would approach the Supreme Court for justice.”
According to Pwajok, the PDP candidate, Gen. Useni, won the elections but that INEC declared his opponent Simon Lalong of APC winner of the said poll.
In his reaction to the judgement, deputy governor of Plateau State, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, called on their opponents to join hands with their administration to join their hands to develop the state.
However, counsel to the APC and Governor Lalong, Garba Pwul SAN, said the verdict of the Appeal Court was an affirmation of the Plateau electorates who elected them.
Barr. Pwul said his team of lawyers was ready to prosecute the case at the Supreme Court.
The counsel to APC however said the approach of the PDP to the supreme Court might be fruitless efforts, according to him the decision of the Supreme Court might not be differ from the two Courts and INEC.
It will be recalled that, the low tribunal had sent parking the petition of Gen Jeremiah Useni and PDP; Similarly the appeal court sitting in Jos subsequently re-affirmed the victory of governor Lalong as declared by INEC and the lower tribunal.
There was jubilation by APC party supporters in Plateau state, singing songs of victory.
In another ruling the Appeal Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State, on Friday upheld the election and return of Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir as the duly elected Governor of Bauchi State as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC
While delivering its judgment on Friday, the 5-man panel led by Justice O. A Otisi held that all the grounds of appeal filed before the court by the appellants lacked merit and thereby dismissed them.
Counsel to the Bauchi state Governor, Chris Uche, hailed the judgment describing it as a victory for democracy calling on the people of Bauchi State to continue to support the administration.
