Peoples Democratic Party senatorial candidate for Kaduna Central, Lawal Adamu Usman has restated confidence in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
Usman, fondly called Mr LA, made the remark following the formal inaugural sitting of the Kaduna State division of the National Assembly and State Assembly Election Tribunal at the High Court complex.
In his speech at the inaugural, chairman of the Tribunal, Justice A.H. Suleiman said the Tribunal is constituted to hear petitions arising from the recently held National and Kaduna State Legislative Elections.
He disclosed that at the moment, 18 petitions have been filed, 10 of which are in respect of the National Assembly elections while eight are of the Kaduna state House of Assembly elections.
Justice Suleiman warned that with election petitions, time is of the essence, as by their nature, they sui generis, I.e. in a class of their own.
“In this regard, we request the cooperation of all, especially the legal practitioners having petitions to prosecute or defend before the Tribunal,” he said.
He warned that the Tribunal will not entertain unnecessary delay as the petitions will be treated with utmost urgency and dispatch.
“We are under an oath to dispense justice without fear or favour, affection or ill-will,” said, promising to afford all parties adequate and equal opportunity within the ambit of the law to present to present their cases for adjudication.
“Let it be stressed at this juncture that parties and counsel are forewarned to desist from engaging in any untoward act that may stifle the administration of justice. In this regard, any attempt to influence the Tribunal, in any way or mode, should be totally avoided as such attempt shall be severely dealt with according to the law,” Justice Suleiman warned.
Remarking separately, Mr LA, who spoke through his media aide, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman called on the public to restore confidence in the judicial process as the only remaining credible window for seeking redress.
“The stern warning by the learned Judge against attempting to take undue advantage of the Tribunal is indeed reassuring. The judiciary by its current operations and previous antecedents has maintained respectable neutrality and given hope to the common man,” he said.
He vowed to pursue the case for the reclamation and restoration of the people’s mandate to its logical conclusion and urged supporters to remain steadfast and prayerful.
