Last legal battle for 6 seats at the Adamawa State House of Assembly has shifted to Yola Court of Appeal, following different appeals filed before the it by 2 sitting Members of the House of Assembly and 4 embattled candidates who suffered a defeat at the Election Petition Tribunal recently.
The 6 appellants have approached the Apex Court to determine whether the recent judgement delivered by 3 -Man Panel of Judges, led by Justice S. Akanbi, actually reflected the merits of their suits.
Recall that the Lower Court had delivered judgement on 5 petitions instituted before it by contenders of National Assembly and 10 for state House of Assembly over allegations of irregularities said to have characterised the polls and certificate forgery.
In the case of the State House of Assembly, 10 Constituencies that attracted litigations shortly after general elections included; Uba/Gaya, Mubi North, Mubi South, Gombi, Girei, Yola South, Lamurde, Mayo Belwa, Ganye, Toungo.
Interestingly, the Election Tribunal was able to deliver judgement on all the cases, but while some of petitioners who had their petitions quashed gave up hope of reclaiming their mandates, others decided to vigorously pursue their course; hence, approaching the Apex Court for a redress.
So far, about 6 appeals for the State Assembly have been received by the Court including that of the incumbent members representing Mubi North and Mubi South Shuaibu Musa(APC) and former Governor Muhammad Umar Jibrilla's ally, Musa Umar Bororo(APC) respectively.
It could be recalled that the 2 Honourable Members were sacked by the Tribunal over alleged certificate forgery, and consequently ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue certificates of return to the complainants, Suleiman Yahaya(PDP Mubi North) and Yakubu Musa Dirbishi(PDP Mubi South) who came second with highest number of votes cast during the election.
While on their part, Rufai Umar Gombi(ADC) Gombi, Hon. Vrati Nzonzo(APC) Lamurde, Peter Da'ape(PDP) Mayo Belwa and Mohammed Atiku Hayatu(APC) Uba/Gaya, who lost out at the Tribunal, were challenging the elections of incumbent members including Japhet Kefas(PDP), Myandassa Bauna (PDP), Ibrahim Musa Italiya(ADC) and the current Speaker of the Rt. Hon. Aminu Iya Abbass(PDP).
In all, the Court of Appeal has received 6 election cases for the seats of the State Assembly including that of Shuaibu Musa, Musa Umar Bororo, Rufai Umar Gombi, Vrati Zonzo, Peter Da'ape and Mohammed Atiku Hayatu, for determination at a later date.
These appeals will be determined by three man panel led by Justice Chidi Nwaoma Uwa. Already, Rufai Umar Gombi and Shuaibu Musa have filed their briefs after which the appeals will be riped for hearing before the judgment any moment from now.
It is time that will tell whether the embattled Shuaibu Musa and his counterpart, Umar Musa Bororo, will have the Apex Court reverse the judgment of Lower Court to enable them continue in their representation, or uphold the verdict and then pack and leave the hallowed chamber permanently...
More so, it is time that will tell whether the remaining 4 embattled contenders will be able to unseat any of the 4 sitting members and recover their huge resources expended or be finally disappointed again by the court.
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