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Darius
Ishaku, Taraba State Governor
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Barely 48 hours after the
Taraba State Elections Petition Tribunal nullified the election of the state
governor, Darius Ishaku, violence has erupted in Wukari area of the state. Taraba is one of the
northern states that has witnessed high amount of ethno-religious crisis in the
last few years, with Wukari being a major spot for violence.
Reports
say Sunday’s crisis started following celebrations and protests for and against
the court ruling, delivered in favour of the All Progressives Congress
candidate, Aisha Alhassan.
PREMIUM TIMES/NAN report continues:
A
resident of the town who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on phone, Kawu Musa, said the
crisis broke out after some touts took advantage of the anti-ruling protests to
unleash mayhem.
He
said some residents fled their homes to the bush for safety, adding that
gunshots rent the air earlier in the day before the deployment of security
agents to restore order.
“They
just started firing sporadically, chanting war songs, we have to flee,” Mr.
Musa said.
It
was, however not clear the extent of destruction or if there were casualties as
at the time of this report.
The
Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Kwaji, confirmed the
incident, saying soldiers and a detachment of police officers from the state
command and other neighbouring divisions were promptly deployed to the town.
He
said law and order had been restored in the affected areas.
The
Taraba election tribunal on Saturday nullified the election of Mr. Ishaku
mainly on the grounds that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primary that
produced him was held after the deadline approved by the electoral commission,
INEC; and was thus illegal. The tribunal ordered that Mrs. Alhassan be sworn in
as governor.
The
PDP and the Mr. Ishaku have, however, indicated their intention to challenge
the ruling at the Court of Appeal which by Nigerian law means the current
governor will still continue in office.
Meanwhile
Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba has vowed to appeal the verdict of the
Elections Petitions Tribunal which nullified his election as governor.
The
tribunal on Saturday in Abuja quashed the victory of Mr. Ishaku of Peoples
Democratic Party’s, PDP, and declared Aisha Alhassan of the All Progressives
Congress, APC, as winner of the 2015 governorship election.
Mr.
Ishaku, who told a news conference in Jalingo on Saturday that he would appeal
the verdict, added that he believed that the Court of Appeal would reverse the
judgment and give him back his victory.
Meanwhile,
the verdict was greeted with mixed reactions as Mrs. Alhassan’s supporters in
Unguwangadi, Magami, Kasuwan-Yelwa, Sabon-Gari and Nyamu Sala areas celebrated,
while others criticised it.
Mrs.
Alhassan’s supporters were seen on the streets chanting “Sai Mama,” “Maman
Taraba Oyoyo” to show their happiness over the verdict.
Ahmed
Umar, a resident of Jalingo, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the verdict
was victory for democracy.
Also,
a former senator representing Taraba Central, Abubakar Tutare, said the ruling
had given confidence to the common man about the judicial system.
The
PDP Public Relations Officer in the state, Napoleon Adamu, told journalists
that people in the state should accept the verdict and cooperate with the
winner.
However,
Hariman Bovoa, the National President of Mambilla Youth Progressive
Association, criticized the verdict, saying it was biased.
Also,
Gibeon Kataps, former Secretary to the Taraba Government, said Mr. Ishaku
remained the governor, until the determination of the case at the Court of
Appeal.
The
police command in the state had, therefore, warned that it would deal
decisively with anyone who foment trouble in any part of the state.
The
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Joseph Kwaji, gave the warning in
an interview with NAN in Jalingo.
The
police image maker said the command had put in place adequate measures to maintain
peace.
He
added that the command had deployed its men to Wukari, Takum, Donga and Bali to
ensure peace.
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