Bauchi Governorship Poll: PDP Faults Court Ruling, Petitions NJC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the ruling of Justice Ekwo Inyang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, halting the collation and announcement of the March 9 Bauchi Governorship results.

The PDP in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Wednesday, said that the matter should have been handled by an election petition tribunal.

Ologbodiyan also stated that the PDP has issued a petition on the matter to the National Judicial Council, and a signed affidavit by the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, in Abuja, alleging that the order is in violation of the Constitution and Electoral Act.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has petitioned the National Judicial Council over the violation of the Constitution and Section 87(11) of the Electoral Act, by Justice Ekwo Inyang of the Federal High Court by sitting on a matter that ought to have been handled by an election petition tribunal, as created by the provisions of our laws.”

“Despite this clear provision of the law, Justice Ekwo decided to hear the application of Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar and his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), within twenty-four hours on 19th March 2019 and issued an order on INEC not to continue with the election until the case before him is finally decided,” the statement added.

Ologbodiyan further quoted the affidavit, which stated the role of the Chief Justice in setting up tribunals to oversee election petition cases.

“That the Chief Justice of Nigeria has constituted the various Election Petition Tribunals in Nigeria to handle such cases and the assumption of jurisdiction by Justice Inyang Ekwo is an affront to the constitution and electoral wishes of the people of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area and Bauchi State” he opined.