Nigeria: Can the DPP Regain Ground in Sokoto State?

30 April 2008
opinion

Abuja — The nullification of Governor Aliyu Wamakko's (PDP) election by the Court of Appeal in Kaduna was greeted with muted reaction by the people of Sokoto State, which itself suggests that the Democratic People's Party (DPP) will need a miracle to regain ground or recapture power in Sokoto State.

In fact, even within the DPP camp, the celebration of their technical victory at the Court of Appeal was short-lived. As they pondered over the realities of Sokoto State politics, the DPP leaders are sounding desperate and despondent. Many DPP leaders kept making persistent calls to radio and news paper editors, trying to give their own self-serving interpretation of the court judgement. One of the DPP callers went as far as accusing reporters of not properly interpreting the intention of the Court of Appeal Judges in Kaduna. According to the DPP supporters, former Governor Aliyu Wamakko was disqualified to stand as candidate in a fresh election, although nowhere in their decision did the Judges declare that he shouldn't run in the fresh election. Irritated by the interference of the DPP into their work, one radio editor had to tell such callers that it is not the business of journalists to re-interpret court judgments based on the "facts" supplied by interested parties. He suggested to the caller to meet the court of Appeal Judges to secure a declaration that Wamakko would not stand again as candidate and it would be reported as such.

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