I Accept Supreme Court Judgment, But to Us, It’s Not Justice, Says Ashiru

John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Kaduna State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, Isa Ashiru, yesterday said he had accepted the verdict of the Supreme Court judgment in the state governorship tussle in good faith.

Speaking in an interview with journalists yesterday in Kaduna, he said: “The Supreme Court is the last point of call; they gave their judgment, but to us, it is not justice.

“But I have taken it in good faith because I have gotten to the last bus stop and there’s nothing I can do. I just left the party’s office where I met stakeholders and I told them to be law-abiding.

“I told them not be discouraged because we are in politics not for ourselves but our state, given the opportunity. Now that this had happened, we will not be deterred.”

Ashiru and his party had challenged the outcome of the March 18, 2023, governorship election won by Uba Sani of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

His petition was dismissed from the election tribunal to the Supreme Court.

This is the second time he had lost election. In 2019, he was defeated by former state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

Responding to a question, Ashiru said he is not done with politics yet, despite his defeat.

He said: “In politics, whoever says he’s done, is selfish. I am in politics not because of myself but the good people of Kaduna State. I am on and I will continue.”

He said the PDP did well during the election, having won the three senatorial seats in the state, 10 House of Representatives seats and 12 House of Assembly seats.

The governor ship candidate called on PDP supporters to be peaceful in the bye-elections taking place on February 3, 2024

“I urged our supporters to be law-abiding and remain consistence because PDP is still on ground, and we have not lost the election, but we accept in good faith what transpired,” he said.

Ashiru said: “What has happened is not encouraging. We have to go back and embark on mass mobilisation and sensitisation to educate our electorate and let’s see how we can get things right. But it’s unfortunate.”

Asked if he will accept a hand of fellowship from the governor, he said: “I am a Nigerian like any other person. I am a state citizen like the governor himself. If that is his wish, what is wrong in doing that?”