Following the Court of Appeal judgment in Abuja, which set aside the governorship election petitions tribunal ruling sacking him from office and declaring the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, Senator Aisha Alhassan as governor, the Taraba State Governor, Arc. Darius Ishaku yesterday asked residents, particularly his supporters, to rejoice over his victory only within their homes.
The tribunal had nullified Ishaku’s election on the grounds that he was not validly nominated by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and as such, was not qualified to contest the April 11 governorship election in Taraba State.
The governor appealed the decision and in a judgment yesterday, described as “unattainable”, a petition by the APC seeking to disqualify him as the PDP candidate in the gubernatorial election.
In a unanimous ruling, a five-man panel led by Justice Abdul Aboki, said tribunal erred in law by giving victory to Mrs. Alhassan, while nullifying the election of Mr. Ishaku.
While setting aside the decision of the tribunal, the appellate court upheld the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to return Mr. Ishaku as the duly elected governor of the state.
Reacting to the ruling, the governor urged the people not to jubilate in such a way that violence would break out.
He said he had always sought peace so that he could provide development, stressing that the court has indeed proven it was the hope of the common man.
Gov. Ishaku thanked those who stood by him in challenging the tribunal’s judgment.
In Jalingo, the state capital, truckloads of mobile policemen were seen manning major junctions and patrolling major streets to forestall the breakdown of law and order.
In Takum, the governor’s hometown, there was massive celebration with his supporters taking to the streets and singing ‘sai Darius’.
