Zamfara: Supreme Court review and Ologbondiyan by Musa Gusau


As the political atmosphere in Zamfara state appears tensed, awaiting the final judgement by the Supreme Court on the review of its gubernatorial case, the controversial National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kola Ologbondiyan on Saturday vehemently insisted that the Supreme Court has no option than to dismiss the pending application by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to review its judgment on the Zamfara governorship election matter.


In fact, the earlier position and statement of the PDP on the review of the judgement where it raised alarms that the APC was behind the agitation that the Supreme Court should reserve its judgment on the Zamfara state governorship election matter was childish, fabricated lies and uncalled for. PDP is becoming a house of taboo and irrational thought.


The APC or His Excellency, Hon. Abdul’aziz Yari, has no hidden ploy to arm-twist the apex court to review the case in their favour as the case of Zamfara APC is entirely an intra-party affair, which is different from the already affirmed decision of the Supreme Court judgments on Imo and Bayelsa states election matters.


The PDP is only promoting and sponsoring unnecessary propaganda against Zamfara APC and the review of judgement by claiming that it is aware of efforts being made by agents of the APC to blackmail and arm-twist the Supreme Court to commit a judicial summersault and give them judgment through the back door. Rather it is the other way round. Why is the PDP desperate on this case which is an APC family affair? In the case before the apex court, there is nowhere the PDP is mentioned as a defendant or a party to the dispute, so why are they meddling into something that does not concern them or is it that they have lost faith that they came to power in Zamfara state through the back door?


PDP as a party and the generality of Nigerians and, in fact, the justices of the Supreme Court know that the court has the right and backing of the law to re-trial its own earlier judgement. So, the option before it to hear an application seeking review of judgement for justice is in order. So, the application for Zamfara review shouldn’t be dismissed by any court of law, but rather treated with and for justice to prevail. 


Even if the Supreme Court had consistently decided on the judgments reached at the court, which it reaffirmed in its judgments on the Bayelsa and Imo states governorship elections, the case of Zamfara is far different from the above two cases from Imo and Bayelsa, respectively. The PDP in this case is an interloper, meddler and busybody.  Zamfara case is not like Imo and Bayelsa and the APC has tangible reasons to support a review .


For justice to prevail in Zamfara, the fate of the APC application on Zamfara is to be heard and justice done to it. The application can have life before the Supreme Court. That is why the Supreme Court had insisted in the first place of reserving judgment on the matter.


All these PDP accusations, bordering on Zamfara review and the PDP propaganda, have never made the Supreme Court to reserve judgment for Imo and Bayelsa but dismissed the two applications because of its belief in the merit of the application from Zamfara APC it has decided to reserve judgement not to repeat another error of judgement.


Finally, we commend the position of the Supreme Court for ensuring justice is followed through the review of its judgement to deliver justice. These would not be capable of triggering a breakdown of law and order in Zamfara state or destabilise our nation and truncate our hard earned democracy as claimed by the PDP. Was hell let loose in Kano when the former emir was dethroned? Was there a breakdown of law and order when the PDP was sacked? Then, why would the PDP say there would be breakdown of law and order in Zamfara?Zamfara has never belonged to the PDP and God willing so shall it be.


Gusau is Secretary,Concerned Citizens of Zamfara.

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