Supreme Court affirms Mohammed duly elected Bauchi Governor, as Deputy Governor welcomes triumph against APC 

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Governor Bala Mohammed, left, in joy of victory inside the Supreme Court

By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi

The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday upheld the election of Senator Bala Mohammed as Governor of Bauchi State.

In a lead judgement, Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which had on November 17, 2023, upheld the election of Mohammed as the duly elected Governor of Bauchi State.

The unanimous judgment of the 5-man panel was on an appeal by the gubernatorial candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ambassador Saddique Baba Abubakar, who was not satisfied with INEC’s declaration of Bala as winner of the March 18 governorship election in the State.

Justice Saulawa held that Abubakar’s appeal was “devoid of merit” since all the six issues adopted for determination were answered against the appellant. 

The Bauchi  Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, had earlier declared Bala Mohammed as winner of the election.

Bala, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party polled 525,280 votes to defeat Abubakar, a former Chief of Air Staff, who secured 432,272 votes.

Abubakar had approached the tribunal seeking to nullify Mohammed election, but in September, the tribunal dismissed the petition filed by him and the APC.

The tribunal had found that the petitioners failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the alleged manipulation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the election, to the advantage of the PDP candidate.

With the judgement of the Supreme Court which is the final decision, the Governor can now face the act of governance effectively and efficiently for the next Four years. 

Reacting to the outcome of the judgement, Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau welcomed the triumphant victory at the Supreme Court against APC and its gubernatorial candidate, Retired Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar on the victory of the PDP in the outcome of the 2023 governorship election in the state.

Jatau congratulated his principal, Governor Mohammed on their victory which he described it as a testament to their administration’s indomitable spirit and tireless efforts towards the total transformation of Bauchi state into a beacon of development and inclusive governance.

He noted that, ‘with this ruling, the Supreme Court has affirmed its position as the ultimate arbiter of truth, fairness, and the rule of law. Our faith in the judiciary has been further strengthened, as they have boldly upheld the collective will of the people, safeguarding the integrity of our electoral process.”

He added that, “Let us all commend the justices who have demonstrated their unwavering dedication to the pursuit of justice and the preservation of our democratic values.”

Jatau added that, “On behalf of myself, my family, my staff, my political associates and the Government and the good people of Bauchi state, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to our visionary leader, His Excellency, Sen. (Dr) Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, CON (Kauran Bauchi), the Executive Governor of Bauchi state on our triumphant victory at the Supreme Court today.”

According to him, “We hail the tireless efforts and exemplary leadership of our Governor. His commitment to the welfare and progress of the people of Bauchi state has been an inspiration to us all. We recognize his countless sacrifices, his strength in the face of adversity, and his unwavering belief in the principles that underpin our democracy.

“As we celebrate this resounding victory, we are grateful to the good people of Bauchi state. Their unwavering support, resilience, and trust have played an invaluable role in this triumph. It is their belief in the ideals of justice, fairness, and democracy that has propelled our leader to this historic win,” he added. 

The Deputy Governor further said that, “You, the people, are the heartbeat of our democracy, and it is your voices that have resonated through the hallowed halls of the Supreme Court.”

The Deputy Governor then reaffirmed his unflinching loyalty and support to Governor Bala Mohammed towards ensuring prosperity, progress, and inclusive governance in the state for the betterment of every citizen and the promotion of unity, security, peace, and harmony.