Zamfara Guber: Gov. Yari reacts as Court sacks APC candidates, says judgement does not stand

Abdulaziz Yari, governor of Zamfara, has reacted to the Appeal Court judgment, which nullified the participation of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2019 elections in Zamfara State.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto led by Justice Tom Yakubu, had on Monday set aside the judgment of a Zamfara High Court on the APC primaries that produced the party’s candidates for the governorship, National and State Assembly elections.

Reacting to the Appeal Court’s decision on Monday, Yari in a statement by his media aide, Ibrahim Dosara said the Appeal Court judgment in Sokoto does not stand, describing it as mere rumour.

The statement read: “His Excellency the executive governor of Zamfara state Hon (Dr) Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar appeals to all the law-abiding members of the APC and indeed all the citizenry of Zamfara state including members of all political parties to remain calm and law-abiding, pending the release of the judgement which is currently being prepared for presentation to the public.

“However, unlike the rumours now awash all social media platforms that the Court of Appeal Sokoto division has nullified our elections, it is not true. The statement is incorrect.

“Those circulating the rumours are doing so to cause mayhem in our state to satisfy the ego of their masters. You may recall that they have been doing so to mislead the public.

“What the court of appeal Sokoto division did was setting aside the judgement by the Zamfara state high court on the ground of “EXAMINATION OF PROOFS OF EVIDENCE.” This has nothing to do with our elections.

“The court has not in any way tempered with our elections, as only tribunal has the right to listen to issues arising from election matters.

“Again, the court of appeal Sokoto division has not in anyway tempered with the processes of the primary elections. It only faulted the examination of the proofs of evidence.

“Furthermore, the processes of filing the appeal were done after the expiration of period within which to do so.

“For these reasons, his Excellency the executive governor of Zamfara state and chairman Nigeria Governors Forum and senator-elect, Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar is appealing to all members of the APC and it’s supporters to remain calm and law-abiding.”