Tribunal: Constituents raise concern over delayed judgement on Bassa/Jos-North

The constituents of Bassa/Jos-North, federal constituency, have expressed worry over the delay in delivering judgement in the suit filed against Hon. Musa Agah, PDP and INEC, challenging the return of Agah as winner of the bye-election for Bassa/Jos-North federal constituency.

They said the tribunal have done very well during trial proceedings, but had taken a long time without delivering judgement.

The People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and Its candidate Muhammad Afam Alkali, are challenging the return and subsequent declaration of Hon. Musa Agah, as winner of the 26th February, 2022 bye-election, alleging over voting and substantial non compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.

The constituents under the aegis of Bassa/Jos-North Democratic Movement, in a statement signed by Dickson Samuel, Chairman and Auwal Abubakar Secretary, said they were worried that the petition is still pending almost six months after the conduct of the bye-election.

“We are not unmindful of the fact the 1999 constitution (as amended), stipulates that election matters must be determined within 180 days, by an election tribunal.

“We are equally not unmindful of the fact that the PRP and its candidate, Muhammad Adam Alkali, have closed their case, so also did the PDP and its candidate as well as INEC, with all written addresses adopted long ago, but the tribunal is not forthcoming with its judgement,” they said.

The group also expressed concern that with few months to 2023 general elections, the delay in dispensing the tribunal’s judgement amounted to mounting political pressures on both the electorate and the politicians.

“It is said that justice delay is justice denied.”

“We therefore, at this juncture, implore the hard working tribunal panel to see reasons to deliver its judgement within the shortest possible time,” they said.

The group urged the tribunal to, “…not only see reason in delivering the judgement, but should also dispense justice accordingly.”