By Ahmed Kaigama
The Bauchi State Government has constituted a petition tribunal and appeal panel to treat petitions that may arise from the local government election in the State.
Our Correspondent reports that the Bauch State Independent Electoral Commission, (BASIEC), has fixed Saturday Aug 17, 2024 for the conduct of elections in 20 local government areas of the state.
Hajiya Fatima Abubakar, Chief Registrar Bauchi State High Court made the announcement at a news conference on Friday.
According to her, the State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Umar swore in the chairmen and members of the petition tribunal and appeal panel at the state High Court, August 12 2024
She said that the formation and inauguration of the tribunal and panel is in tandem with Bauchi State Electoral Law, 2008, which empowers her as the chief judge to carry out the task.
“Provision of the section 60 sub section 2 of the law said an aggrieved party has 21 days within which to file his petition from the date of the declaration of the result.
“For the appeal dissatisfied parties has 14 days from the decision of the tribunal within which to file appeal
She added that the tribunal would commence sitting Monday, August 19 , 2024, according to her for Bauchi North the sitting is in Azare town, Bauchi Central Ningi and Bauchi south is Bauchi, while the appeal is Bauchi old high Court promises.
“With the time frame two months for the tribunal and one month for the appeal”, she said.
She explained that Chairmen and Members of the Bauchi State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal for the three Senatorial Zones of the State were constituted and sworn in recently.
“With Magistrate Garba Kundak as Chairman Bauchi North senatorial Zones,Magistrate Isma’il Adam as Chairman Bauchi Central senatorial zone and Magistrate Safiya Salihu as Chairperson Bauchi South.
“Similarly, Chairman and Members of the Appeal Tribunal were also sworn-in to address any issue that may arise as a result of dissatisfaction with any decision or decisions of the Local Govt Election Tribunal was constituted for the Local Govt elections with Justice Mohammed Sambo as Chairman,” she said.
She charged members of the tribunal and panel to work with the fear of God and ensure quick disposition of matters that may come before them.