By Bello Adamu
When I first saw the names of the APC Screening and Appeals Committee Members, I was ecstatic. I was ecstatic because I saw the name of Senator Garba Lado as the Chairman of the Party’s Senatorial Appeals Committee, which to me and my basic administrative and legal knowledge means was not contesting for the Kano Central Senatorial primary in APC reducing the contenders and limiting pre-election matters as well.
My presumption was based on the basic legal maxim of ” nemo judex in causa sua”, which means” no one should be a judge in their cause”. How then would Lado be a judge in his own course/Case?
preliminary investigation revealed to me that Lado had earlier arranged for a so-called petition to a leading contender for the seat (AA Zaura), whom he found threatening and used his power (Lado) as the chairman of the party’s appeals Committee to disqualify. To my greatest chagrin, Lado had little or no knowledge of the law-I am unaware of whether the AA Zaura was Given a fair hearing, which is also in conformity to the basic legal practice especially, in the Administrative law of “Audi alteram partem”, which translates to “Listen to the other side” or “Let the other side be heard as well”. If he did, then, has he also not been guided by one basic principle of Natural justice? which is “no bias” having complied with adequate notice and fear hearing (if duly complied with)
The party as a just one did all it takes to had handled the situation. Zaura, through his legal counsel, responded to the disqualification by Lado to the APC’s national legal adviser, the legal adviser who is a life bencher, fortunately, reviewed the disqualification vide a memo to the APC national secretary. Of course, this did not go well with Lado. Having secretly acquired the Senatorial form and getting screened without going through any process of appeal. Lado, how would you have handled a situation where an appeal was raised against you while you are the chairman? Especially as regards your recent allegations while as Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, which led to your sack by President Muhammadu Buhari in September 2021?
Lado!, You should also have basic knowledge of politics, that in every contest, individuals have an interest in candidates and for reasons. Let me put it to you that, when you first won your primary election in PDP, 2011, it was for government interest and not your credibility. At the time, no one knew you and you know you can’t match Zaura’s good doings and popularity as he is now. Anyway, I am not advocating forcing a candidate but taking you through history, which will be elaborately discussed in my next publication.
Lado went on claiming the Kano state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and the state APC party Chairman, Prince Abdullahi Abbas, called delegates to coerce them into voting for Zaura, and that you have mandated the DSS to provide you with voice notes of those calls, Lado, this has exhibited your ignorance of how governance and party politics are done even when you were privileged to have been in government. Your lawyers should have guided you that your inability to provide those voice notes as claimed will dabble you into defaming both the governor and the state party chairman, which is chargeable in a competent court of the law!.
Let me also end this note by drawing your attention to the following facts:
1. That both the governor and the party chairman have not stated that the election will not take place. The election was conducted most transparently and openly, which you must attest did occur. Your illogical behaviour to have left without the sorting and counting amounts to nothing. It is because perhaps your lawyer has not guided you correctly to have followed the matter to its logical conclusion, and believe me if you have to go to court, the judge will not be sympathetic.
Some basic questions are:
Why were you at the radio making all sorts of noise even when the election had not commenced? Are you anticipating the outcome? (Pre-emptive)?.
Why do you have to leave the scene when the result has not been announced? What if it favours you? And it got manipulated against you, you did not protest any injustice as when the election was ongoing even when all your agents were readily available in all the polling boxes. Which shows no anomaly took place.
Lado you should also know that in Politics, there exists a winner and a loser. In this case, you could have been a good loser to borrow the words of His Excellency, Ganduje.
Lado has a rethink, kifi na kallonka Mai jar koma! You should also know that in politics, there is a winner and a loser. In this case, you could have been a good loser, to borrow the words of His Excellency, Ganduje.
Lado has a rethink, kifi na kallonka Mai jar koma!
Bello Adamu could be reached on 07039840753
