….. PDP kicks ,vows to Appeal judgement.
The Kaduna Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Thursday dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and its candidate,Isah challenging the victory of Uba Sani of the All Progressives Congress in the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the State.
The three-man panel of Justices led by Justice Victor Oviawe delivered judgement via Zoom on Thursday.
The panel, in a split decision struck out the petition because the pre-hearing notice was filed out of time, after the seven days prescribed by the constitution, and was deemed to have been abandoned.
In a split judgment delivered by Justice Oviawie supported by Justice N. Nonye, the judge said the pre-hearing notice was filed outside the seven days prescribed by the constitution from the day when the main case was filed.adding that the petition was deemed to have been abandoned.
But in a lone decision,Justice K. Damlat said the pre-hearing notice was properly filed and was not abandoned.
However, the tribunal noted that if the petition had not been dismissed for lack of merit, it would have ordered a supplementary election in 22 polling units within 90 days in the substantive judgement.
Delighted by the judgment, Governor Sani said “The judgement is an unequivocal affirmation of the popular mandate graciously given to me by the good people of Kaduna State. I commend the Tribunal for their thoroughness and lucidity. They have enriched our jurisprudence and practice of electoral democracy.
“I also commend my dear brother, Hon. Isah Ashiru Kudan for approaching the Tribunal to ventilate his grievances. This is a clear demonstration of his belief in the principles of democracy and the imperative of civility in the conduct of political actors.
“I call on Hon. Isah Ashiru and members of the opposition parties in Kaduna State to join hands with us as we strive to move our dear state to a higher level. We are all stakeholders in Project Kaduna. It is not about personal glory. Our people want all hands to be on deck to address the myriad challenges confronting the state,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PDP has expressed dissatisfaction with the judgement and vowed to approach the Appeal Court.
“
