A ruling of the Supreme Court upholding the election of Gov. Yahaya Bello on Tuesday did not meet expectations of being “untainted by lucre”, a former governor of the state, Idris Wada, who challenged the election, said.
The court said Mr. Bello was validly elected, and dismissed cases filed by Mr. Wada and James Faleke, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Mr. Faleke said he should have replaced Abubakar Audu, the first candidate of the party in the November 2015 election, after Mr. Audu’s sudden death.
The APC nominated Mr. Bello, instead.
Mr. Wada, the immediate past governor and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said the election was flawed.
“Though we expected the noble dispensers of Justice at the Apex court to have delivered a judgment that will be untainted by lucre and un-cowed by the threat of immoral power; unfortunately, it was not to be,” Mr. Wada said in a statement signed by his Chief Communications Manager, Phrank Shaibu.
“But we are proud to have represented the moral imperative in a polity struggling to retrieve its conscience from the depravity of men who have no honour. We are proud to have stood beside the good people of Kogi State in their struggle to assert the legitimacy and dignity of their vote.”
Mr. Wada said the judgement “was against the golden dawn in the state that bears the cradle of the Kogi people. It was against the golden dawn for all lovers of democracy in Nigeria and all over the world but we are proud to be at the vanguard of the revolution”.
The decision of the court brought to an end months of legal battle to unseat Mr. Bello.
Mr. Wada said he challenged the election not because he “wanted a second term in office; but to serve as a historic denunciation and a befitting dirge for electoral fraud”.
“Those who do not understand the ways of God and the efficacy of His powers may mock or deride you, but keep your head high for the common good of the greater Kogi of our dream,” he said.
“The Supreme Court judgment may not have come the way we desired but that’s the more reason we should demonstrate to the world how much we love our dear state by maintaining peace and order.
“As a people, we are resolved to do our best in whatever way possible to offer support to Governor Yahaya Bello for the uplift of Kogi State. Without doubt, we shall serve as the polished metal for the compunction of Government with the quality of opposition we will provide in the days ahead but it is our prayer that Governor Yahaya Bello and his aides will appreciate our advice and proposals in the overall interest of the Kogi people.
“Finally, we are comforted by that fact that, beyond the judgement of the Supreme Court, there is the judgement of God.”
Credit: Premium Times
