Contesting Tinubu’s election at Supreme Court unnecessary – Gov Yahaya Bello

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has applauded the ruling of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, which affirmed the election of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Basking in the euphoria of Wednesday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) victory at the tribunal, Bello, while fielding questions from newsmen, asked the aggrieved opposition parties to deploy the resources at their disposal to more meaningful ventures rather than contesting the judgement.

After he emerged from the office of Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, the Kogi governor said: “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t think there is any ground for appeal. I will rather appeal to them that they should drop any appeal going to the higher court and then save the resources, save the trouble, advise their supporters, and admonish them that they should accept yesterday’s judgement.”

He said further: “I advise all those that feel aggrieved that we have only one country. They should all come together and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and ensure that we fix this country. Whatever hardship we are facing today is the result of the past.

“Definitely, we have Mr. Fix It, who is trying his best travelling around the world to ensure that Nigeria is fixed. So we are happy the matter is settled.”

Continuing, Gov Bello said: “We appreciate all that happened. The truth has been exposed. Imagine the justices sitting down for almost 14 hours to deliver that landmark judgment yesterday. Nigerians within the country and in the diaspora are happy, and I think it’s time to settle down and face governance.”

On the outcome of the Kogi State tribunal’s decision, which nullified the election of two All Progressives Congress (APC) senators and gave victory to an opposition PDP candidate, Gov Bello quipped: “I want to assure you that even judging from the pronouncements of yesterday at the court, we are going to have our 3/3 Senate in Kogi State, I can assure you.

“This is democracy. They have the right to appeal. I think they will take the appropriate steps to ensure that no violence is orchestrated anywhere. We will follow the due process of the law, and whatever the outcome at the end of the day, we will abide by it.”

Recall that the Kogi State Election Tribunal had declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the February 25 election in Kogi Central senatorial district.

The three judges of the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal, led by K. A. Orjiako, unanimously declared her the winner of the election after nullifying the victory of Abubakar Sadiku Ohere of the All Progress Congress (APC).

The tribunal sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, also sacked the Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs Excise and Tariffs, Jibrin Isah (APC, Kogi East), on the ground that elections were cancelled in 94 polling units.

Consequently, the tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a supplementary election in the 94 polling units.