By Dr. Tom Ohikere
Whenever golden boughs spring from rotting tree trunks, mortal man has great difficulty in accepting their provenance. And yet the evidence of their eyes presents the blinding truth.
It would be an exercise in futility going into the details of the intricate political interplay that characterised each of the phases of Nigeria’s chequered political history especially during the PDP administrations which is well known to those with a conscious interest in the political history of Nigeria.
Against this background I will do less of blaming Engr. Musa Wada of the People’s Democratic Party and his party for aligning with the thought that there could never be clean victory in Nigeria’s election without electoral irregularities.
Hence alleged that election was marred by widespread malpractices and violence and was conducted without substantial compliance with the Electoral Act and asked the Tribunal to declare that his APC opponent, Governor Yahaya Bello did not secure majority of lawful votes cast at the election.
“But in the case of the November Kogi Governorship Election, Such claim is a devious innuendo and has been proven once again today before the Judiciary, Bello is destined to complete his second term as the Kogi state Governor and nothing can stop what God has ordained to be”
Wada should not underestimate the power of destiny, he should remember how Bello became the Kogi state Governor in his first term and accept his fate and know that destiny is playing out instead of causing distractions. Bello’s victory is not only for APC but for the entire Kogi state.
Earlier today, the Kogi Governorship Election Tribunal has dismissed the case filed by Musa Wada, the PDP candidate against the election of Governor Yahaya Bello.
The three man panel of judges, led by Justice Ibrahim Kaigama gave its delayed ruling in Abuja on Saturday.
In a split judgement, the tribunal dismissed the petition of Musa Wada for lack of merit.
In addition, the tribunal asked him to pay N500,000 as costs to Bello, APC and INEC for his frivolous claims.
Musa Wada scored 189,704 votes to emerge the first runner-up of the November 16 election. He challenged the victory of Yahaya Bello, who polled 406,222 votes.
Bello got the affirmation of two judges, while the minority judge, Ohimai Ovbiagele asked for fresh poll.
Meanwhile, the PDP candidate has vowed to challenge the judgment at the court of Appeal to seek for justice and reclaim what he termed as “stolen mandate”.
Before today’s ruling, the tribunal had also dismissed two other petitions against Bello.
Wada should drop all his petitions and join hands to build the state “The god of victory is said to be one-handed, but peace gives victory on both sides.” They are all winners.
