Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba, on Friday said he would win any fresh election in the state, even if conducted 10 times.
He was speaking in Abuja today after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the political situation in his state.
“I have gone to election two times and the second was a bit more than the first and I am on the third election now.
“I am so confident, if I contest 10 times I will win. By the grace of God the people have given me their mandate and I know the God I believe in will keep that mandate for the people,’’ he said.
The problem however is that there may not be another election so soon in the state, if the Appeal Court upheld the nullification of his candidacy and the votes that he scored to claim victory. The governorship tribunal for the state had declared on 7 November that the PDP had no candidate in the election and that Ishaku’s nomination done in Abuja, was not in consonance with electoral laws. The tribunal led by Justice Danladi Abubakar thus declared the APC candidate, Aisha Jummai Alhassan the winner. Aisha for now, is the minister of women affairs.
Ishaku has 21 days to appeal the verdict.
In Abuja after meeting with President Buhari, Ishaku said calm had returned to the state after the violence that erupted in Wukari area following the annulment of his election by the tribunal.
“I came to brief the President on the security situation in my state and to apprise him with the happenings.
“So far we thank God everywhere is calm, there is peace everywhere and I came to update him to let him know we are doing our best to keep the state in a peaceful atmosphere.
“I am also appealing to all the citizens in my state to be calm because I still have a lot of confidence in the judiciary and the Appeal Court will do what is correct and right.’’
Ishaku said the most important thing for any leader was to ensure the protection of life and property of his citizens.
“I am quite sensitive to any unrest and I have told my people to be patient, peaceful, law abiding and allow the judiciary to do its work.