FLASH POINT

By Sajidah Usman, Kaduna

Supporters of the New Nigerian People Party (NNPP)   went agog last Wednesday following the victory of their party on the case filed by  their lawyer,

 Barrister Hassan Aliyu at State high court In  Kaduna on the alleged fees imposed on local Government Chairmanship contestants and their councilors during the 19th October, 2024 Local government Elections. 

 Speaking at  a press briefing at the party secretariat in Kaduna, Barrister Aliyu said the supporters have every right to be happy as justice has taken its course on the judgement passed by the trial judge, justice ango andy on Wednesday the twenty second of January 2025 .

He said the party had filed a case challenging the fees charged by State Independent Electoral Commission for amounting to two hundred thousand and two million naira by councillorship and chairmanship candidates instead of fifty thousand and two hundred thousand naira earlier charged for all contestant  

Barrister Aliyu said when the party took the matter to the court alled a find that the fees charged was aimed at faving way for the ruling party , A PC  to win the elections easily by SIECOM , the trial judges said fundamentally,  no fees were expected to be paid by either presidential,  governorship or house of assembly candidates going by the provision of section 19 (f)of the state electoral Act which collided with the section 106 of the National constitution provision of Nigeria. 

He said, as a result of what the two constitutions said , Justice John Ango Andy, declared victory for the NNPP and ordered the SIECOM to refund all the candidates their fees paid earlier.

Barrister Aliyu therefore thanked the court for ensuring that justice took it course and urged the party supporters to remain happy and continue to go about their political activities peacefully according to the dictate of the law.

In a remark , the state organising secretary of the Party,  Zubairu Hassan Mai Unguwa,  thanked God for the victory of their party at the court,  saying they will continue to operate according to the principles of their leader , Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso till they chase out the APC  from Sir Kashim Ibrahim house Kaduna and the villa in Abuja.

Also in a remark, The  State Women leader , Hajiya Safiyya Mu’azu, thanked Allah for their victory and urged, Women in the state to continue to support the party in its  effort to ensure true democracy and rule of law in the state .

Commenting on the court judgement,  the special Adviser to  Kano State Governor,  Alhaji Balarabe Kwankwasiyya said truely the judiciary is the last hope of the ordinary man as high sense of professionalism was exhibited by the trial judge , justice Andy after going through the case .

He urged the party supporters to remain peaceful and law abiding as justice and the right things will continue to unfold day by day till the time the NNPP will capture the state and the entire country in 2027.