The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for Bauchi State has been urged to be fair and just in the delivery of its judgment in line with the evidence adduced before it.
The assertion was made by a group known as ‘Concerned All Progressive Congress APC Political Group’ through a press statement shared with Journalists in Bauchi on Wednesday.
The Spokesman of the group, Alhaji Abdullahi Dauda Little said that all eyes are now on the Bauchi Governorship Tribunal as it prepares to deliver its judgment having concluded hearing of the petitions brought before it.
According to him, “People know the facts presented before the tribunal, they know the credible witnesses that testified, we want the tribunal to ensure that all the facts presented before it are adjudicated upon on merit.
“We want the tribunal to give all the votes won by APC governorship candidate and to respect the choice and wishes of the electorate to protect their reputation and reject any attempt from any quarters that will attempt to influence its judgements.”
Abdullahi Little cautioned members of the tribunal not to sacrifice the integrity of the judiciary by giving judgements that will be seen as unacceptable.
He also called the attention of President Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to put emphasis on the matter in order not to allow political sycophants to steal the mandate of the APC.
The Group Chairman said that the only hope of the Bauchi people and the survival of APC in the state is winning the election saying, “if care is not taken, our members will lose hope in the party, because the party is not protecting their members’ interests.
“We, the supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the aegis of Concerned APC members are tired of ‘monkey de work baboon dey chop’ type of politics being played by our leaders in the APC.
“It is disheartening that after spending our time and resources building our party in Bauchi State under the sun and in the rain and ensuring that President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima were elected during the 2023 election, we in Bauchi State have been abandoned.
“We are writing this to draw the attention of President Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Umar Ganduje, to the threat being posed to the survival of the APC in Bauchi State if this issue is not urgently addressed.
“Those of us who fought for this party has not been carried along in all the appointments so far made. Our supporters are asking us if we have not made a mistake by taking the risks we took to ensure victory for the APC.
“We are daily being inundated with calls by party supporters especially in Bauchi State about the non-representation of youths and women as was contained in President Bola Tinubu’s campaign promises,” he further said.
He, however, said “As loyal party members, we join other Nigerians to congratulate our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President, Kashim Shettima, for their well-deserved victory at both the election and at the Presidential Election Petition Court. But we will be failing in our responsibility if we keep silent when we see or hear things are going wrong.
“We implore our President to take urgent steps to address this injustice. This is the only way we will believe the APC has learned from the mistakes of the last administration where people who were nowhere during the campaign were given all the appointments and the power over Nigerians.
“We hope and pray that the party will take precautions and not take things for granted because four years is a short time in the life of any nation.
“It is based on this belief that we are calling on our President, our national chairman and other party leaders to kindly take a look at our situation in Bauchi state where we don’t have a governor but the party has a large followership base which may soon become history if proper things are not done to prevent a mass exodus of members to other parties.
“Mr. President, we are also calling on you to take urgent steps to reduce the suffering of Nigerians following the rising cost of living as a result of the removal of petroleum subsidy. All well-meaning Nigerians know that President Bola Tinubu and his team of progressives mean well for Nigeria and Nigerians and our support is firm. Mr. President,” he added.
