A group under the aegis of Advocacy for Advancement of Peace and Harmony in Africa Initiative(ADAPHAI) has implored the lordships of the appellate court to critically look at the fundamentals of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal ruling in Nasarawa State, not the technicalities so as to help uphold the sanctity of the judiciary.
ADAPHAI made this passionate call at a press conference addressed by its National Coordinator Comrade Sulaimon Suberu in Lagos on Friday.
“We call on the appellate court to critically and objectively look into the logic and substance of the dissenting judgement delivered by Justice Ibrahim Mashi, as a way of upholding the unassailable principles of fairness and objectivity inherent in the judiciary.
It will be recalled that the said Tribunal’s ruling of Monday 2nd October, 2023 sets aside Governor Abdullahi Sule’s election.
The group is of the view that the judgement was allegedly, “predicated on technicalities, while jettisoning the substance of the petitions on the point of law and its intrinsic values.”
The Group noted that fundamentals issues of the law were ignored in a brutal manner by the tribunal, but did commend Justice Ibrahim Mashi one of the Justices over his dissenting judgement which according to the group clearly distinguished him as one standing for the truth against all odds.
It also expressed worries over how Governor Abdullahi Sule’s election was set aside.
“The absence of prior declaratory relief, setting aside Governor Abdullahi Sule’s election and return is indeed a source of concern to us.
“As well as how the judgement had allowed evidence without written depositions on oath by subpoenaed witnesses called by the petitioner to stay.”
It however, urged the good people of Nasarawa state to remain calm and be law abiding, citing the fact that Governor Abdullahi Sule still remains the Executive Governor of the state in the face of the Law.