TRIBUNAL UPHOLDS GANDUJE’S ELECTION AS KANO GOVERNOR

The tribunal added that the petitioners claiming the electoral rules and guidelines were not complied with in an election they claimed to have won the majority of lawful votes is a paradox, adding, “It’s like trying to mix oil and water,”

Penpushing further reports that, the tribunal declared that the petitioners failed to prove the allegations of corrupt practices and non-compliance by the respondents beyond a reasonable doubt, adding that declaring an election as inconclusive where there are lawful reasons is constitutional..

“The carbonised copies of documentary evidence tendered by the petitioners were mostly unstamped, some are unsigned, others contained re-written data, hence amounted to documentary hearsay and therefore inadmissible.

“We shall not go into details in the petition. He who asserts must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Respondents are not bound to prove. In civil cases, the burden to prove lies on the plaintiff. Where the plaintiff fails to prove his case, the case must fail. As such, the petition is hereby dismissed,” she declared.

Penpushing also reports that Chairman Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kano State, Rabi’u Suleiman-Bichi, in reaction said the party would study the judgement and decide on the next line of action,while the All Progress Congress( APC) Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, said the judgement is a clear indication that the people of Kano had voted for  Ganduje.

The Governor in his own remarks described the ruling as another round of victory, saying the truth has prevailed again, “when the election was held we won and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decided to challenge our victory at the election tribunal. It is clear to all now that our victory is genuine, as confirmed by the tribunal,”

 “I am the governor for all, without any discrimination. And this is part of the cardinal principles of our great party, All Progressives Party (APC)  I will remain resolute, committed, focused and extremely dedicated to serving the people of our great state. “Today is but another day of joy and jubilation when the tribunal confirmed and reconfirmed our earlier victory as given to us by Allah when we were elected by the electorate,” he said.

Meanwhile, it is recalled that, the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and the party  had filed the petition against Ganduje,  his party, All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) challenging the Governor’s victory in the March 23 supplementary election.