TheCable

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has commended the supreme court judgement which nullified the elections of all the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara in the last general polls.

Abubakar, in a statement issued by Paul Ibe, his media adviser, commended the supreme court for siding with justice, saying justice had prevailed in matter.

He said that the court upheld the rule of law and did justice by declaring the PDP as winner of the governorship election in Zamfara, as well as in the state house of assembly elections.

“Nothing is as pleasing to the ears of believers, as justice being served in the holy month of Ramadan,” he said.

He commended the lord justices for putting aside the interests of the powerful and upholding the interests of Nigeria and Nigerians.

“God first, Nigeria second, must be our priority as trustees of the people,” he said.

“When justice prevails, the people rejoice, chains are broken, freedom is multiplied and society is enriched.”

Abubakar expressed hope that the justices of the court would allow full reign of justice in other petitions coming before them.

He was also hopeful that good conscience, fear of God and the rule of law will prevail.

The former vice president said that in so doing, “they will write their names for good on the sands of time and avoid the infamy that oppressors wish to thrust on them as their legacy.’’

He congratulated Bello Matawalle, the governor-elect, and the people of Zamfara, who, according to him, would finally have a government that would address the issues which had made life an ordeal in the state.

“The storm is over and peace and calm are coming to Zamfara,” he said.

“May God bless the Supreme Court of Nigeria. May God bless Zamfara state and may God bless Nigeria, now and forever.‘’

The supreme court on Friday invalidated the participation of the APC in the last governorship, national assembly and state assembly elections in the state.

Paul Galinji, the trial judge, in delivering the lead judgment in Abuja, held that the APC and all its candidates that participated in the elections gate-crashed, having not conducted lawful primaries.

According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was right not have recognised the participation of APC in those elections.

Galinji, therefore, ordered that all the political parties whose candidates scored the second highest votes in the elections and the required spread should be declared winners forthwith.