The Governor of Taraba State, Mr Darius Ishaku has expressed disappointment over the ruling of the Election Petition Tribunal that removed him from office.

“I am very disappointed that the judge left the main issue and dealt with a matter that is completely beyond his issue; the issue of primaries as held by the party (PDP)”, he said while reacting to the judgment in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.

The Governor further noted that he will “appeal” as “a law abiding citizen”, insisting that “it is the mandate that you have given me freely that I am executing and I will appeal the Tribunal judgment because I know that this judgment will be reversed.

He also urged the people of the state “to remain calm and wait for the response of the appeal” adding that the ruling “is completely unacceptable”.

The Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja had nullified the election of Mr Ishaku as governor of Taraba State on Saturday, November 7.

The Tribunal Chairman, Justice Musa Danladi, had on October 7 reserved judgment indefinitely after hearing the final submissions of the counsels.

Justice Danladi ruled that Governor Ishaku was not properly nominated as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party for the Governorship election.

The Chairman of the Tribunal relied on the reports of the Independent National Electoral Commission, which said that the PDP didn’t conduct any primary election for the Taraba State Governorship Election.

Justice Danladi, accordingly returned Hajiya Aisha Alhassan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected Governor of Taraba State, having secured the second highest votes during the election.

Mr Ishaku, however, has a 21-day window to appeal the judgment of the tribunal.