All eyes are currently on Kogi State as the three-man Justices of Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal headed by Justice Kashim G Kaigama is set to deliver judgment on the petition by Kogi State PDP governorship candidate in the November 16 governorship election, Musa Wada, challenging the victory of Governor Yahaya Bello.
As the Tribunal reserved judgment on Thursday after the two parties adopted their final written addresses, there are different expectations from Tribunal by the camps of the two parties.
The camp of Governor Yahaya Bello hopes that the election of their candidate will be upheld by Tribunal while the camp of Musa Wada of PDP hopes that the prayer of their candidate will be granted by the Tribunal and declare him the winner of the election.
What Governor Yahaya Bello’s Camp Rely On
The camp of Governor Yahaya Bello is solely relying on the high margin he used to defeat the PDP candidate.
Bello defeated Musa Wada with 216,518 votes which became the highest margin ever in the history of the state since Democratic election in the state.
The camp of the Governor believed that Wada’s petition in the Tribunal is a mere academic exercise and an effort in futility because no matter the cancelation of votes in the seven local government where Wada alleged that there were over voting, he will still not be able to meet up and declare the winner of the election.
Bello scored 406,222votes to defeat Wada who scored 189,704 in an election the PDP candidate described as a rob on democracy and has since sworn to reclaim the stolen mandate of the people. The high margin gives the camp of Bello an assurance that the Tribunal will uphold the election of their candidate.
Another factor that has given the camp of Yahaya Bello an assurance is the believe that the Presidency will come to the aid of Yahaya Bello who has been delivering for APC in Kogi State.This is because they believe that APC will not want to lose any state again to PDP ahead as preparation for 2023 presidential election has already started.
However, this may not work as President Muhammadu Buhari has shown often times that he will not interfere in the activities of the judiciary in their judgment which was practically demonstrated in the judgment delivered in Bayelsa State where David Lyon of APC lost his election a day to his inauguration.
The PDP candidate, Musa Wada, claimed that there were massive rigging which centered on over voting and fake results that contributed that the high margin Yahaya Bello used to defeat him.He therefore sought the relief of the Tribunal to be declared the winner of the election having scored the highest number of valid votes. Wada in his prayer wants the election in those seven local government to be canceled which will then give him a lead ahead of Bello and be declared the winner of the election.
This will be difficult to do, it will be tough decision for Tribunal to cancel votes in seven local government and then declared the PDP candidate the winner of the election.
Although Wada claimed he has enough evidence to knock out the 216,518 margin of Yahaya Bello and be declared the winner of the election by the Tribunal.
Issues Wada Wants Tribunal To Rely To Deliver Kogi Election Ruling
It is clear that it will be difficult for Tribunal to cancel 216,518 margin of Yahaya Bello in the seven local government where Musa Wada claimed there were over voting without any further election.
This is because the ‘canceled votes’ which is the 216,518 margin of Yahaya Bello is far more than the 189,704 votes scored by the PDP candidate in the election.
If Wada’s prayer of the cancelation of the votes in the seven local government is granted by the Tribunal, then Kogi election will be nullified and a fresh election or rerun may settle the case. It will be difficult for Tribunal to cancel the 216,518 margin of Bello and then declared Wada as the winner of the election with just 189,704 when the canceled votes will be more than the total votes scored.
The Nigerian Post