Alleged certificate forgery: PDP drags Gombe Governor, Deputy to Court  

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State, including the party’s governorship candidate, Muhammad Barde, has dragged Governor Mohammed Yahaya and Deputy Governor Jatau Daniel of Gombe State to the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking their disqualification from the 2023 elections, saying they allegedly submitted forged certificates to the INEC.

The state PDP, in an originating summons filed on their behalf by Arthur Okafor SAN, and Johnson Usman SAN, cited a series of Supreme Court decisions that Inuwa and his deputy, having deposed to FORMS EC-9, which constitutes certificates, and making a false statement in it, amounts to submitting forged certificates which is a disqualifying ground under Sections 177(d) and 182(1J) of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended).

The PDP alleged that the Deputy Governor bears multiple names in all his educational certificates without a deed poll and any valid change of name attached to his Form EC-9 submitted to INEC.

“That the Governor, by his INEC FORM CF001 has stated under oath that in 1980 -1990, he worked with A.Y.U. & Co Ltd; however, in 2022, the Governor stated again on oath via his INEC FORM EC-9 that he worked with the same A.Y.U. & Co. Ltd from 1985 – 2003.”

PDP said that the Deputy Governor, who claimed to have worked with the Nigeria Army from August 1979 to July 1980, submitted an NYSC discharge certificate that stated that he commenced his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in August 1979 and completed the same in July 1979.

Counsels to the PDP pointed out that the Deputy Governor in paragraph D of his INEC Form EC-9; claimed he worked with the Nigerian Army from July 1979 till August 1980 and his reason for leaving in July 1980, was for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

They argued that FORM EC-9 being an affidavit on oath, both the Governor and his Deputy, are not qualified to contest the election, thereby, urging the court to disqualify them.

No date has been given for the hearing of the suit.