Tribunal insists on hearing suit against Suswam

THE Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State capital, has ruled that it will hear the issue of qualification in the petition brought against Governor Gabriel Suswam of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by Prof. Steve Ugbah of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Suswam, who contested and won last year’s April governorship election, has been challenged by Ugbah who alleged that the governor possessed a forged certificate.

Ruling on the motion for judgment on ground three of the ACN petition, which bordered on certificate forgery, the panel chairman, Justice Halima Mohammed, declared that the issue had been settled by the Supreme Court which directed that the matter be heard on its merit.

She said contrary to the arguments by the respondents’ counsel that the issue of certificate forgery was concluded by the last tribunal, records had proved them wrong as it was not exhausted   by the last tribunal and pointed out that the petition was only struck out on the grounds that pre-hearing session was not properly activated but the issue was subsequently restored by the Supreme Court.

The panel further made reference to the Supreme Court judgment in the case between Prof. Daniel Saror of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Governor Suswam where the apex court held that the qualification of a candidate and the presentation of certificates were mandatory to contest the governorship position.

“We have no option than to abide by the Supreme Court judgment that directed that the case must be heard on its merit. Presentation of certificate is important for the contest of governorship position and so the petitioner’s motion succeeds”, Justice Halima ruled.