Zamfara: Again, Takori heads for Supreme court, join league of parties for review application

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By Saminu Ibrahim


A former Attorney-General and commissioner of Justice in Zamfara state, Honourable Mohammed Sani Takori has revealed that he is returning to the Supreme Court to seek for fresh governorship election in Zamfara state.


Takori, a former gubernatorial candidate of the Advanced People’s Democratic Alliance (APDA) one of the 74 deregistered political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said his prayer is in line with section 140 (1,2) of the Electoral Act.


Speaking at a press conference held on Wednesday in Abuja, he stated that the supreme Court verdict which earlier dismissed his case was not in consonance with Section 140 subsection (1,2) of the Electoral Act.

 
“APDA is coming very soon to file our case for review and we shall do that very soon.

“The supreme Court said I did not bring spread of candidates, I brought the spread at the tribunal, brought it at the court of Appeal so let them look at it” Takori said.


The former lawmaker, who represented Gummi, Bukuyyum federal constituency added “I have resolved to go back to the supreme Court for a review to join the league of those who are now on line”.

According to Takori “Recently, cases of Zamfara, Imo and Bayelsa State has created a lot of controversy and has become a topical issue not only among politicians but among the common man on the street.

“I am an APDA candidate in the 2019 governorship election in Zamfara state whose case was pursed to the supreme Court on the simple reason that I was not able to provide spread of which all those things were attached at the tribunal, court of Appeal level up to the supreme Court.

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“The second issue is on Zamfara state which is very pathetic and unfortunate, that the supreme Court has assumed jurisdiction on matters that would have been ordinarily resolved at the tribunal, for instance the case of state Assembly and National Assembly have to be resolved at the level of tribunal and court of Appeal.


“But unfortunately these matters were finally brought before the supreme Court and the Apex Court was not able to bring out document that affect the primary of state Assembly and the primary of National Assembly and the gubernatorial primary. So everybody who participated in that election from APC in Zamfara state is a siner and all of them were punished.


“While we acknowledge that the apex court is the last court of Justice in Nigeria, but we are of the view that the finality must be within confine of the provision of the Constitution.


“For instance, the Electoral Act is a creation of the Constitution like the supreme Court, section 140 (1,2) of the Electoral Act provide that “Subject to provision of subsection 2 of this section, the tribunal or the court as the case may be determines that a candidate who has been returned as elected was not validly elected, on this ground the court shall nullify the election.


“Section 2 provide where a tribunal or court nullify an election on the ground that the person who obtained the highest number of votes at the election was not qualified to contest the election, the tribunal or court shall not declare the second person elected but shall order a fresh election.

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“Our view is that even though they are the people to interprete the Constitution, we seek that their finality should be within the confine of the law that gives them power to decide on matters. If the finality violates the Constitution, then what is the position of Nigeria democracy” he asked?


He continued “We hope the supreme Court shall not be a party in undermining democratic process in Nigeria. I am a lawyer by profession and I respect their lordship and their wisdom but I think there is need for them to reopen gates for those who are not happy to come back to court until they are satisfy.


“Closing the door for Justice and asking people to wait for the heavenly court is a minus on to them, because somebody one day will come and correct them, so it is good for them to look at matters on their own merit, but they don’t need to entertain frivolous matters.


“Secondly, the fines and the kind of words used I think is not good for the Apex Court, if you fine somebody N10million because you hate what he brought before the court, why did you register it, if you know it is useless, why did you register it? You don’t have to accept it.


“And it is intimidating, many lawyers are scared that if they get to supreme Court, they are going to be punished.


“Our democracy provide for three arms of government, the executive, legislature and judiciary. Because of separation of powers, that no one dictate to the other, now if the supreme Court is saying we are final and we don’t make mistake, then what have they turned themselves to be”?

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“With due respect to their lordships, we hope they will sit down and think that only God is perfect” Takori added.

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