*Chairman says Tribunal will be just, fair, in interest of public
*PDP optimistic of justice
*APC assures of cooperation
By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna
A 3-man panel of the Election Tribunal handling the petitions filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Isa Ashiru, alongside other political parties has been inaugurated in Kaduna yesterday.
The PDP had earlier challenged the victory of the Kaduna state Governor, Senator Uba Sani of the All Progress Congress (APC), with the claims that the last governorship election in the state was manipulated in favour of the incumbent governor.
In his inaugural speech, the Chairman of the panel, Justice Victor O. Oviawe, promised to ensure that the Tribunal upholds and works within the ambit of the provision of the constitution.
According to Justice Oviawe, “the Tribunal will be just, and fair and do the right thing in the interest of the public.”
Speaking further, Justice Oviawe sought the cooperation of the Bar to enable the court to timely deliver in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Tajudeen Muhammed, assured the panel of the NBA’s support, adding that the Bar would give utmost cooperation to the Bench throughout the process of the case.
Other members of the panel are Justice D.A Damulak and Justice N. Nonye.
The Tribunal also said it would be sitting daily to ensure it completes its task within the stipulated time.
The leading counsel to Governor Uba Sani, Bayo Ojo, assured of their cooperation throughout the sitting of the tribunal and to defend their client appropriately.
The leading counsel to the PDP gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 election, Samuel Atung, said the they have been assured by the tribunal at its inaugural sitting that there would be justice, saying that as members of the Bar, they have abiding faith in the tribunal that justice would be served.
