Yobe polls’ tribunal gets two petitions, pledges fairness

THE Elections Petitions Tribunal (EPTR) sitting in Damaturu, Yobe State capital, for the National and State Houses of Assembly elections has been inaugurated by its Chairman, Justice Onajite-Kuejubola.

Other members of the tribunal include Justices Udu Eze and Mukhtar Yashu’a. It will hear the two petitions submitted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on elections into the Yobe-North Senatorial District and the Bade/Jakusko Federal Constituency.

Justice Kuejubola said the tribunal is empowered by the second alteration Act 2000 of the Constitution to have original jurisdiction over all petitions to the exclusion of any court or tribunal as to whether any person has been validly elected as a member of the National Assembly and House of Assembly of the state.

She acknowledged the challenges and responsibility placed on tribunal, adding that: “we shall discharge these duties judicially and judiciously, fairly and expeditiously, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, guided by our good conscience, predicated upon the oath we have sworn to uphold in carrying out this national assignment”.

Kuejubola reiterated that a free and fair election is a litmus test of democratic governance in the country, stressing that the wishes of the electorate must not only be respected but also be shown to have been upheld”. She added that the voice of the people is the voice of God.

The tribunal chief, however, warned lawyers to desist from time-wasting by being punctual, orderly and prepared to handle their matters to enable the tribunal finish its work within six months.

She warned politicians and the general public against making any attempt or moves to compromise any member of the tribunal to pervert justice and solicited the cooperation of the press to only publish verifiable and confirmed information from the tribunal.

The petitions are filed by the opposition PDP against the election of Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan and Hassan Kaku El-badewi, all of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

Alhaji Hassan Kafayos of the PDP is contesting the election of Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan as senator representing Yobe-North on the grounds that the polls was shrouded with sharp practices, non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 and that the respondent was not duly elected with the lawful majority votes cast.

Also in his petition, Zakariya Yau Galadima said there were wrongs at some polling units and mass thumb-printing by ANPP agents, leading to the wrongful election of El-badewi of the ANPP for the Bade/Jakusko Federal Constituency.