Although the Adamawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal affirmed the victory of Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the last election by the tribunal, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Sen. Aishatu Ahmed (Binani), have vowed to appeal the judgement.
Tge tribunal held that Binani and the APC failed to prove her case against the governor.
The tribunal added that the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Ari-Yunusa, erred in declaring Ms Binani winner of the election.
However, in their separate reactions to the tribunal’s judgement, the APC and Binani insisted that the answers they are seeking for their queries won’t stop at the tribunal, as they intend doing so at the court of higher jurisdiction.
The state chairman of the APC, Idris Shuaibu, described the judgement as a shock to him and the APC, but that they were not alarmed, adding that, “We have hope, as we have two more avenues after tribunal to express our grievances and for the tribunal judgement to be upturned.”
He said the verdict by the tribunal was “not the true reflection of Adamawa voters’ mandate,” adding that the party would liaise with the national leadership to apply for the certified records of the judgement before heading for the Court of Appeal.
“The APC in Adamawa State is no doubt focused and resolute to pursue all legal means to get our mandate,” Mr Shuaibu added.
On her part, Ms Binani, while admitting that her faith was not in her hands, stated that all avenues would be exploited to address her case.
“It’s no longer about Binani. The next step is a collective undertaking. Tribunal is just the first stage, there are the appeal and the supreme courts. We shall make the next steps known after consultations in due course, in God’s name,” she said.
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