The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 presidential election, Mr. Atiku Abubakar, has hailed the Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday nullifying the election of all the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State.
A five-man panel of the court had earlier today voided the victory of all the APC candidates in the elections held in the state on February 23 and March 11, 2019.
Those affected are candidates for the governorship, national and state assemblies’ polls.
The judges, in a unanimous judgment, held that the APC in Zamfara State did not conduct valid primaries from which its candidates emerged.
“Candidate, other than the first appellant with the highest vote, stands elected. A cost of N10 million is awarded against the appellant,” the court ruled.
After holding that the APC had no valid candidates for the elections, the panel, led by the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, declared that the first runner-ups, who scored the second highest votes and the required spread, are winners.
Reacting to the ruling, Atiku, in a statement signed by his media adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, said: “God first, Nigeria second, must be our priority as trustees of the people. When justice prevails, the people rejoice, chains are broken, freedom is multiplied and society is enriched.
“Atiku Abubakar is hopeful that the Supreme Court and our Lords Justices will let Lady Justice have full reign in other petitions that will come before them, and that good conscience, fear of God and the rule of law will prevail. In so doing, they will write their names for good on the sands of time and avoid the infamy that oppressors wish to thrust on them as their legacy.
“Once again, Atiku Abubakar commends the Supreme Court for siding with justice. He congratulates the Governor-elect Hon. Bello Matawalle and the people of Zamfara, who will finally have a government that will address the issues that have made life an ordeal in that great state. The storm is over and peace and calm are coming to Zamfara.
“May God bless the Supreme Court of Nigeria. May God bless Zamfara state and may God bless Nigeria, now and forever.”
For his part, the governor of Bayelsa State and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum Mr. Seriake Dickson congratulated Matawalle, on his return as the governor-elect for Zamfara and the victory of other PDP candidates in the state, following the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The governor also congratulated the leaders of the party and its supporters in Zamfara for their dedication, commitment and resilience which according to him culminated in the party’s victory at the polls.
He described the court’s judgement ruling as “victory for justice and democracy in action.”
“I hereby congratulate the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Zamfara State, Dr. Bello Mohammed Mutawalle, on his victory at the Supreme Court….
“I also commend the leaders of the PDP and the teeming supporters of the party in Zamfara for their dedication and resilience. And very importantly, I thank the Judiciary, once again, for standing up to the expectations of the well-meaning Nigerian public as a strong, impartial arbiter that could be trusted,” he said.
Similarly, a constitutional lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozekhome, who was the lead counsel for the Kabiru Marafa-led faction of the APC seeking the nullification of the party’s primaries, said justice had been served and rightfully so.
“What the apex court has done today (Friday) is to deepen, widen and strengthen democracy and our democratic precepts.
“It shows that parties must maintain internal democracy and cannot whimsically, capriciously and arbitrarily operate outside their constitution, guidelines, the Electoral Act and the Constitution.
“The Supreme Court has redefined our jurisprudence by showing that when a party damages its primaries, it can never reap the proceeds of its illegalities.
“That is why and how the PDP that came second has today produced the governor, all Senators, all House of Representatives and House of Assembly members today in one fell swoop,” he said.
In his reaction, the APC national Vice chairman, south-south, Mr. Hilard Etta, described the ruling as “sad” for the party its members.
“It is a sad day for every member of the APC. It is a very sad day for us,” said Etta.
