Tribunal Upholds Gov. Ahmed’s Election

The election petition tribunal sitting in Ilorin, on Friday, 11 November upheld the election of the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and dismissed the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Mr. Mohammed Dele Belgore, SAN.

Belgore was seeking the order of the tribunal to nullify Ahmed’s election and declare him as the winner of the 26 April governorship election held in the state.

The tribunal led by Justice Ngozi  Ehemelu, averred that multiple thumb-printing, ballot stuffing, over voting, intimidation of voters as alleged by the petitioner are criminal in nature and needed substantial evidence which must be proved beyond reasonable doubt.

She said the petitioner  failed in that regard.

In the unanimous ruling of the three-man panel which lasted for about nine hours, Justice Ehemelu said: “Having found the first, second and third respondents to have scored the highest votes cast during the election, and that the election was totally conducted in line with the electoral act as amended, the petition has hereby failed while the election is upheld.”

Reacting, Governor Ahmed described the judgment as sweet and sound.

“It’s an affirmation and confirmation of the wish of the good people of the state who voted for us. We are in deed grateful to Allah who has made today another happy day for us,” the governor said in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahaab Oba.

Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed said his electoral victory at the tribunal is dedicated to God, who saw him through and the good people of the state for entrusting him with their mandate.

Governor Ahmed, who described his triumph as a victory for democracy and the rule of law, appealed to Kwarans to join hands with his administration in the task of building a new Kwara.

“I wish to assure members of the opposition that the PDP is large enough to accommodate everybody without any bias. I therefore urge you to shelve political bitterness to be part of the movement for a better Kwara,” he said.

According to him, the judgment further confirms the credibility of the 2011 general elections as conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and for that, he commended the commission for having done a thorough job.

The governor, who salutes the ACN for testing the law, commends the impartial three-man panel, led by Hon. Justice Ngozi Emehelu for painstakingly going through all the evidences tendered by both parties before making its final pronouncement on the case.

Alhaji Ahmed thanked citizens of the state for their prayers and support since the commencement of the litigation and assured them that the victory would further propel him to work harder to bring more dividends of democracy to them.

But the ACN has rejected the verdict of the tribunal, vowing to appeal.

By Stephen Oni/Ilorin