Some politicians and other stakeholders in Bauchi State are having ‘sleepless nights’ as they await the outcome of Supreme Court verdict, today, on the March 9, 2019, governorship election in the state.
It would be recalled that for the past one week, supporters and members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), have been voicing their optimism of emerging victorious.
The level of anxiety as well as optimism by both sides is being reflected on daily basis in political programmes aired by radio stations across the state.
Chairman of the APC in the state, Alhaji Uba Nana, told newsmen, yesterday, that his party had embarked on a prayer session ahead of the Supreme Court verdict.
Nana, who reserved all comments till after the judgement, said the party was hoping for a successful outcome at the apex court.
“We are reserving our comments until after the verdict on Monday; we have nothing much to say but I can tell you that we are very prayerful now.
“We are in prayers and hoping for a successful outcome at the Supreme Court on Monday,” Nana said.
On the other hand, Publicity Secretary of PDP in the state, Alhaji Yayanuwa Zainabari, also said that his party had absolute trust in the Supreme Court, and believed that justice would not only be done, but would be seen to have been done.
“As it is now, the Judiciary is the only hope of upholding the mandate given to Governor Bala Mohammad by the people of Bauchi State.
“We have trust that the court would do justice in delivering its judgement; we have no fear at all and just as we won the election without rigging, by God’s grace, we will have course to celebrate,” he said.
A member of one of the parties, who pleaded anonymous, said that in an event of their losing at the apex court, he and others had decided to leave Bauchi.
“The tension is so palpable and expectations for success, very high; we cannot withstand losing out because the embarrassment will be enormous; we will rather leave in an event of failure at the Supreme Court,” he vowed.
Meanwhile, investigations reveal that some politicians in the state have resorted to spending their nights in the mosques, praying to God to grant their parties victory at the apex court.
A prominent politician in Bauchi, who confirmed this development to newsmen on condition of anonymity, said because of the dicey situation at hand, himself and others were not willing to take chances.
“Some of us resolved to leave the comfort of our bedrooms and turn to God for salvation.
“We stay overnight in the mosques praying because, as Muslims, we know that the All Mighty often grants requests pleaded for during late night,” he revealed.
It would be recalled the incumbent Governor, Bala Mohammed of PDP, had himself told newsmen shortly after his victory at the Appeal Court in Jos that he could not sleep a day to the Jos verdict.
The governor is now in the United Kingdom for medical check-up, according to an earlier statement by his Media Aide, Muktar Gidado.
Also speaking, the state’s Police Public Relations Officers, DSP Kamal Abubakar, assured that the command was on top of the situation as it had taken adequate measures to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order after the verdict.
Abubakar said security men in all strategic locations within the state had been placed on the alert, adding that the command had also invited stakeholders of both parties for a dialogue.
He said that members of the two parties had been barred from any form of celebration after the judgement to prevent breakdown of law and order.
Abubakar called on the people of the state to accept whatever the judgement would be as the will of God.