The governorship election petition tribunal sitting at the High Court complex, Jos, yesterday dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda and the party.

The tribunal therefore upheld and re-affirmed the election of Governor Caleb Mutfwang of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as duly elected.
Delivering the judgment, Mr. Justice Sunday Olorundahunsi who read the three-man tribunal’s judgment, said that APC’s witnesses did not present before the tribunal evidence of over-voting, which was based on mere hearsay.

The Justice said in particular that evidence of PW 49 who is a computer analyst contained fundamental and arithmetical errors as the tribunal took that evidence with a pinch of salt.

He described the petitioners’ witnesses as busy bodies who are meddlesome interlopers. Professor Nentawe Yilwatda had approached the tribunal challenging the declaration of Mutfwang by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as governor of the state, alleging that as at the time of the election, Mutfwang was not qualified to contest having not been validly nominated and sponsored by his party (PDP).

This is because, according to Nentawe, the party (PDP) had no structure as at the time of the said election. But in its judgment yesterday, having reviewed all the submissions of the parties, the tribunal dismissed the petition for lacking in merits.

Reacting to the judgment, the Lead Counsel to APC, Mr. Edward Pwajok (SAN), regarded the judgment of the Tribunal as the first ‘Bus Stop,’ adding that there are other Bus Stops.

Pwajok appealed to the citizens, especially the APC supporters to be calm, be peaceful and hopeful because they are in a judicial system that encourages appeals, stressing that Nigerians are witnesses to lower courts’ decisions sometimes that are upturned by appellate courts.

“That is the hope of the petitioners because it had happened several times in the past. We are very optimistic that at the end of the day, at the end of the appellate processes, justice will be served. Everybody knows that all hope is not lost. The first bus stop has been passed. We are going to the next bus stop. That is filing an appeal to the Court of Appeal where we are sure that it will take more in depth look at all the facts of the law,” Pwajok contended.

Also, the lead counsel to PDP, Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN), said that the governor and the people of the state will breathe a bit. “Breathe not because the petitions were wonderfully crafted or that there are facts on grounds to support it, but because of the noise and entitlement that came with it.

“We thank God that today (yesterday), the petition had been consigned to where it belonged to. We believe the judges have done justice today. But being governorship election matters, we know that some people of course may still want to go to the Supreme Court. It is a goof trip to make. But we believe nothing will come out of it because this is a judgment that has been well-thought out.”

The Tribunal Premises were cordoned off by stern–looking policemen assisted by the soldiers who were helping the civil authorities. Only few journalists were allowed into the court hall to avoid congestion as only one bench was provided for them.