Taraba State is bracing itself for a high-stakes moment as the governorship election petition tribunal in Jalingo, the state capital, has announced the date for its ruling.
On September 30, the tribunal will deliver its judgment on the petition brought before it by the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and their gubernatorial candidate, Professor Sani Yahaya, against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Agbu Kefas.
The NNPP and Professor Yahaya have accused the PDP and Governor Kefas of orchestrating various electoral malpractices during the 2023 general election in the state. They are calling for the nullification of the election results and a fresh gubernatorial election.
The judgment date arrives just two weeks after both parties concluded their final written addresses before the tribunal, presided over by Justice G.A. Sunmonu.
Amidst the imminent ruling, there is a palpable sense of anxiety among the political actors involved. Members of the PDP, in particular, expressed their concerns about the prevailing trends in the dispensation of justice in Nigeria.
The party’s spokesperson, Andeta’rang Irammae, acknowledged the anxiety, stating, “Given the current state of affairs in our justice system, it is only natural to feel apprehensive. However, we maintain a hopeful and optimistic outlook, trusting that divine intervention will guide us.”
Similarly, members of the NNPP have acknowledged the prevailing anxiety within their ranks.
