The Kano State Commissioner for Lands, Adamu Kibiya, says judges hearing governorship election petitions but allegedly collected bribes should choose between the money and their lives, SolaceBase reported.
Aliyu issued the threat to the judges presiding over the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Thursday while speaking during a solidarity protest organized by the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), shortly after a special prayer.
During his address to NNPP members, Adamu Aliyu stated, “Any judge that allows himself to be used and collect bribes and pass judgment that is not right, we want to tell him he must choose between his life and the bribe money he collected.”
A video of the commissioner issuing the threat has gone viral on social media, though he spoke in Hausa throughout the speech.
The statement has sent shockwaves through the state’s political landscape, raising serious concerns about the impartiality and safety of the judges overseeing the election dispute.
The election in question pertains to the governorship seat, for which Abba Yusuf of the NNPP is being challenged by Nasiru Gawuna, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The tribunal has yet to announce a date for its judgment.
Aliyu’s remarks took a more ominous turn as he suggested that the consequences of an unfavourable judgment would be dire.
“You have seen the conflict (banditry) in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina,” he warned. “I swear because of this governorship seat, everyone will die. The conflict that will start in Kano will be more deadly than the ones in those states and Borno.”
This alarming statement has drawn strong criticism from various quarters, with calls for immediate action to ensure the safety of the judges and the integrity of the electoral process.
The issuance of death threats against tribunal judges, alongside allegations of bribery, has cast a shadow over the fairness and legality of the ongoing election dispute. It remains to be seen how authorities will respond to these disturbing developments, and what impact they will have on the tribunal’s proceedings.
Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of NEWS FLASH content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.
