By Ozumi Abdul
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called out the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) government in Kano state against undermining the reputation of the chairman of the National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, Hon. Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge.
It said to disrepute because of its apparent dismal defence performance at the tribunal.
It stated that the strategically planned tactics of the Kano state government to malign the tribunal chairman for fear of what could be possibly the final judgement, by creating a fictitious story and quoting her out context, amounts to disrespect for the judge and the judiciary in general.
This was contained in a statement issued to newsmen in Kano by the immediate past commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs and spokesperson for Gawuna/Gari Campaign Council, Malam Muhammad Garba.
He stated that when Hon. Justice Azinge made the revelation on the alleged attempt to bribe a member of the tribunal by a senior lawyer, she never named any particular party, but just to denigrate the APC, the NNPP government referred to the APC as the bribe giver.
“The Kano state government is also preempting the possible unreveling of the actual bribe giver by the tribunal and therefore wanted to malign the judge” he stated.
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The former Commissioner said that the statement issued by his predecessor, the state commissioner for Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, indicated that the government is trying to vilify the tribunal before the judgement so that it draws sympathy from unsuspecting public in the event it is defeated.
He pointed out that to also confirm how perplexed they are, they filed an appeal while the tribunal is still holding it’s proceedings, saying however that their action will not stop the election petition tribunal from going on with it’s sittings until it delivers final judgement.
He added “even with an apparent sign of victory on its side, the APC has not and will never offer any bribe to anyone involved in the case considering that it has presented facts and figures to prosecute the matter before the tribunal.”
Garba observed that while the APC had presented all it’s witnesses during the proceedings of the tribunal who have been successfully cross examined, the NNPP government has failed to present any tangible witness to defend it’s case.
The former commissioner averred that the action of the Kano state government was nothing but gimmickry and an attempt to also desparage the APC.
While reaffirming it’s commitment to patiently continue seeking legal redress in the case, the APC, he said, is confident it will eventually reclaim it’s stolen mandate.
