There was jubilation on Wednesday in Bauchi by residents and supporters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi was affirmed the winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on March 20 declared Mohammed the winner of the election at the end of the collation exercise.
The electoral umpire announced that Mohammed polled 525,280 votes as against his closest rival, Sadique Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 432,272 votes.
However, the APC candidate and his party approached the court to challenge the result of the election.
Delivering the judgment, Chairman of the three-man panel Tribunal, Justice P.T Kwahar, said that the election was conducted in total compliance with the electoral act thereby dismissing the petition.
He held that the court affirmed the return of Mohammed as the duly elected governor of the state by INEC.
Immediately the governor was affirmed as the winner of the election by the court, his supporters thronged to the government house to celebrate with him.
One of the supporters, Bako Yaya, said they had been praying fervently and waiting for the day to come, adding that they knew the governor would become victorious.
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“We are here to celebrate with him, his family and PDP because he really deserves this victory,” he said.
Meanwhile, the governor who received the well-wishers attributed the victory to God who gives power to whom he wishes and takes it without consulting the holder.
“Many of our supporters would expect me to jubilate over the verdict that has just confirmed the overwhelming mandate that they freely gave to me at the last governorship election in the state.
“Naturally, I am relieved and happy that this distraction has been put aside.
“However, how I wish that we got to this point devoid of the acrimony, the bitterness, the resource hemorrhage, the bickering, the time wasted.
“How I wish that rather than dissipate energy through avoidable litigation, we had all resolved what is a disagreement among brothers through discussion, consultation and unity of purpose.
“How I wish all of us had submitted to the Supreme will of Allah than succumb to our ego and personal fantasies,” he said.
Mohammed assured all and sundry that his administration would strive at all times to uphold the oath of office with fairness, equity and justice.(NAN)