The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, will, on Friday, deliver judgment on the governorship election in Bauchi State in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winner.
Following the declaration of Mohammed as the winner, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Sadique Abubakar, approached the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in the state, challenging the victory.
Chairman of the three-man panel, P. T. Kwahar, in his judgment, affirmed the victory of Mohammed, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
However, not satisfied with the tribunal’s judgment, Abubakar filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal challenging the decision of the lower court.
Meanwhile, the Bauchi State Police Command has warned against any form of wild jubilation by poitical party supporters in celebration of the Appellate Court’s judgment or protest against the ruling.
The Command gave the warning in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Waki, and made available to journalists in the state on Thursday,
The statement was entitled, “Gubernatorial Election Petition Judgment: Jubilation by political party supporters, CP reads riot act to Area Commanders, Tactical Commanders and DPOs, charges them to strengthen confidence building patrol, avert attack on citizens and clampdown on violators.”
Wakil, a Superintendent of Police (SP), warned that blocking roads, using fireworks, using inciting words or blackmailing other supporters would not be tolerated.
He warned that violators would be severely dealt with under the law.
The statement read, “The Nigeria Police Force, Bauchi State Command wishes to notify the general public that all forms of celebrations and rallies by political party supporters for or against winners/losers of the Gubernatorial Election Petition judgment from Court of Appeal Abuja Division between the ruling party with the flag bearer Sen. Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir and the opposition party with its flag bearer, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar which is slated to take place on Friday, 17th November, 2023, must not infringe on the rights of others.
“Moreover, the blissful supporters must comport themselves in line with the provisions of the law; blockage of roads, fireworks, and inciting utterances or blackmailing the opposition party would not be condoned.
“The Command will not dawdle to decisively deal with any person(s) or group(s) who violate this order or deliberately cause the breakdown of law and order in whatever manner.
“Those in violation will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law as security agencies have been deployed strategically and directed to ensure full enforcement.
“Against the locale of this development, the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, CP Auwal Musa Muhammad, urges members of the public to cooperate with the security agencies as many Police operatives will be seen at strategic areas, routes, and communities to suppress the antics and criminal act of underworld personalities.
“He also encourages the public not to be tight-lipped in providing useful information that will aid the security agencies to effectively maintain the serenity and ensure the protection of lives and property in the state.”
The PPRO added that the Commissioner of Police warns officers and men of the command to be civil, professional, and humane in the course of discharging their duties and equally orders regular patrols, stop-and-search, raids, and shows of force by tactical commanders to clamp down all nooks and crannies of criminal hideouts within and outside of the state.
