A group, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed Vanguard (BAM-V), has hailed last Friday’s Supreme Court’s judgment upholding the election of Bauchi State governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, describing the verdict as a victory for democracy.
The group, in a press release signed by its Director-General, Comrade Mohammed Abubakar Jibo, stated that with all litigation over the state governorship election over, it was high time everyone supported the governor for the progress of the state.
Describing the apex court verdict as an affirmation of the mandate freely given to the governor by people of the state, the BAM-V DG called on the opposition in Bauchi State, particularly the APC and its candidate in the March 18, 2023 governorship election, Ambassador Abubakar Sadiqque, to join hands with Governor Mohammed in the tasks of developing the state.
“The Supreme Court’s judgment in the Bauchi State governorship election is a victory for democracy and an affirmation of the will of the people of the state who elected Governor Bala Mohammed for a second term in office in last year’s general election.
“To us as a group and individuals, we strongly believe that what the Supreme Court verdict represents is the sanctity of the power of the electorates to freely elect their leaders at all levels of government. The Bauchi people spoke through the ballots on March 18, 2023 though the opposition refused to listen to the people’s voice.
“The people overwhelmingly elected Governor Mohammed for a second term in office as a reward for his hard work in office during his first term and the Supreme Court has said yes clearly and loudly too to their voice.
“It gladdens us as a group rooting for democracy and good governance that the will of the people of Bauchi State has been validated by the Apex Court in Nigeria,” the group stated.
It asserted that the governor’s victory at all levels of electoral adjudication in Nigeria truly confirms the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, adding that the Justices of the Supreme Court did not disappoint the people of Bauchi State by validating their choice of Senator Mohammed as their governor till 2027.
While congratulating Governor Mohammed for yet another victory for him and the people of Bauchi State, BAM-V advised the governor to always remember the electorates’ vote for him was a reward for his good governance, progress and development, adding that, “as such he should continue in that path with a view to further taking Bauchi State to greater heights.
He appealed to the people of the state to always maintain peace to enable the government to concentrate on developmental issues.
“We the Executive members of BAM-V at the National headquarters join peace-loving people across Nigeria to appeal to the opposition and all people of Bauchi State to avoid fomenting trouble in any parts of the state.
“It is a fact that Bauchi State is one of the safest states in Nigeria today and this must be encouraged to continue by all. There can never be any meaningful development in a state of chaos. In view of this, let us all join hands with the administration of Governor Mohammed to maintain peace for development and progress,” the BAM-V DG appealed.