March 28, (THEWILL) – A former Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Plateau State chapter, Yakubu Bawa, has expressed disappointment over the negative campaign against the University of Jos Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, who was the Returning Officer for the Nassarawa State Gubernatorial elections.
A cross section of stakeholders of the State appear to be feeling otherwise that the State Returning Officer for the election, Professor Ishaya Tanko, after collation of the final results, declared Governor Abdullahi Sule of the APC as winner, having scored the highest number of lawful votes.
The INEC State Collation Officer and Returning Officer said Governor Sule polled a total of 347,209 votes to defeat his closest opponent, David Ombugadu, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 283,016 votes.
Barrister Bawa noted that after the results were announced, there have been several allegations against Prof Tanko in the social media, claiming mostly that he compromised the outcome.
Speaking with newsmen in Jos on the development, the NBA former Chairman said it is unfortunate that people are smearing the image of such a morally upright person as Prof Tanko with such allegation.
“Posting of any unsubstantiated information in the social media is an infraction of violation of law because it falls within the purview of cyber crime, information act and so on”, he said, adding that “what the people are doing is wrong because there is rule of engagement in any social media and online post, and unless and until one has a compelling evidence against someone, such person ought not post any defamatory material about the person because you are smearing such person’s image.”
Bawa said they in the law profession know Prof Ishaya Tanko well enough, and can say that he is a man of uncommon integrity, as some of them can recall how he firmly stood his ground to make the right declaration during the Presidential Election which Peter Obi won in Nasarawa State.
“I, therefore, question how Prof Tanko’s declaration of the winner in the governorship election in the state could be generating smear campaign, while it did not during the presidential election”, he stated.
The former Chairman reminded all those peddling rumours without proof to desist as it is a grave offence, adding that those also circulating such on social media should desist forthwith because it is a cyber crime under the law.
In a similar development, the Director, North Central Zone of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Steve Aluko, has cautioned against any unfounded smear campaign against the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya, over the just concluded gubernatorial election in Nasarawa State.
Aluko warned those spreading such blackmail and bad publicity without any evidence to desist, noting that such is tantamount to defamation of character which is actionable and liable in law as the VC also has the right to sue.
Aluko, who spoke with newsmen in Jos, said voters and aggrieved persons in the just concluded elections have the right to protest against any perceived injustice, as well as the right to seek redress in court, but that smear campaign against anyone without evidence should be checked to avoid unnecessary tensions.
The Director reiterated that the Nigerian constitution upholds freedom of speech and protests, but peddling rumours on social media without any genuine evidence is not only unacceptable, but a cyber crime that is punishable under the law.
