Tarabans in Diaspora has urged the Supreme Court to examine the Taraba State governorship matter before it carefully and ensure that justice is served.
The group said the call was based on recent judgments, stressing that it received the rulings on Akwa Ibom and Rivers States governorship elections with shock and disappointment.
“Nobody saw those judgments coming, because the facts were out there for people to see. Now, we indigenes of Taraba are worried over the governorship matter currently before the apex court,” a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Sumaila Gwamna, said.
“We appeal to the Supreme Court to upturn the Appeal Court ruling and return Hajia Aisha Alhassan of the All Progressive Congress as governor of the state,” he said.
He maintained that the Taraba matter was clear, adding, that “if someone who did not take part in Primaries is allowed to remain in office as governor, it will amount to illegality of the highest order.”
“I say this because the constitution and Electoral Act are very clear on who is qualified to contest an election. In the event that such provision are not met, there is no way around it but to nullify the election. As the tribunal rightly noted, whatever votes somebody who did not take part in Primaries secured are wasted votes,” he said.
He added: “while we await the Supreme Court ruling, we warn all those in the state who may want to subvert justice to consider the state and it’s future and desist from such. We warn all those who have been holding down the state to allow the judges to do their job and deliver fair judgments. They should allow peace to reign in the state for once”.
“Following the recent rulings, many people are wondering if indeed the judiciary is the last hope of the common man. So the judgment on this matter will have a huge impact on the masses and in fact the judiciary,” he said.
“If you look around, you will see that many people are leaving the People’s Democratic Party and many of them have cited lack of internal democracy and impunity as reasons. It was for those same reasons that the PDP in Taraba failed to conduct Primaries. Even the judges can see that people within the PDP are not happy with the developments”.
He said if those who became governor the wrong way are removed, “that will go a long way in deepening democracy and checking godfatherism”.
