Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Dr Dawari I. George. I am the candidate sponsored by the
APC in the March 28 .2015 general elections to represent the Akuku Toru / Asari
Toru constituency in the house of representative.
I make this statement in response to the ruling yesterday (July 2015)
by the National Assembly election petition tribunal holding in Abuja. The
tribunal struck out the petition I filed against the candidate of the People's
Democratic Party, who erroneously and unjustly declared winner of the election.
The national assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja
struck out my petition on the ground that I was not qualified SC to contest the
election. This reasoning was premised on the averment by the respondent, the
PDP that my party, the Apc did not give the independent National electoral
commission 21 days notice before holding the primary elections that produced me
as its candidate for the election.
It is inconceivable that the national electoral commission would accept
me as a candidate for the election if my candidature was defective. It is
equally unlikely that if I was not qualified to contest the elections the same
INEC would take further steps to advertise my name on it's website and other
platforms as a candidate.
Furthermore, INEC went ahead to "declare votes" at the end of
the "election".
It is settled law (which has been corroborated by my counsel) that even
if there was any question surrounding my qualification to contest the election
that question should have been the subject of a pre-election action rather than
an issue for an election petition tribunal.
In agreement with my lawyers therefore, I have commenced steps to
appeal against this ruling. In our opinion, it is based on a wrong premise that
would not produce substantial justice.
I wish to request men and women of goodwill, especially those who
support our cause in Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency, to remain
steadfast as we seek justice at the appellate court.
Let the Lawyers do their work, according to law. We have faith in the
Judiciary to do justice - even if the wheel of justice might appear slow
sometimes.
It is also worth reminding that true justice is a harmony of human and
Divine justice. Human justice sometimes gropes and stumbles before getting to
it's destination. Divine justice waits at the ultimate destination for human
justice to catch up. It would be instructive for us to recall the word of God
in Jeremiah 29:11 "for I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you,
says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to
give you hope in your final outcome.
Thank you.
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