Supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, on Saturday, thronged the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, to welcome him on his return to the state after the Supreme Court judgment which validated his election.
The Supreme Court affirmed the election of the governor on Friday.
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Sadique Abubakar’s efforts at the two lower courts to unseat Mohammed were not successful.
Abubakar, a former Air Chief, had alleged massive non-compliance with the Electoral Act during the poll at the two courts.
His petition at the tribunal and appeal at the appellate court were dismissed for lack of merit.
The two courts held that he did not prove his allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
Reading the lead judgment on Friday, Justice Ibrahim Saulawa resolved all six issues against the appellant and held that the appeal was devoid of merit.
The crowd wielded placards and banners with various congratulatory messages.
The chattered aircraft which conveyed the governor landed at the airport around 12.15 pm.
He was accompanied by his wife, Aisha; his Chief of Staff, Aminu Gamawa; former Speaker of the state House of Assembly and Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Abubakar Suleiman; Commissioners and Special Advisers including party stalwarts.
On arrival, the governor and his entourage were received at the airport by top officials of the state government and bigwigs of the ruling PDP led by his deputy, Mohammed Auwal-Jatau, and his wife.
From the airport, the governor embarked on a rally around some major roads within the metropolis.
As soon as he got to the popular Awalah Hotel Roundabout, he alighted from his official vehicle and entered an open truck which conveyed him around the metropolis.
From there, he went through Ran Road to the Central Market roundabout, through the Emir’s Place to the Ministry of Education roundabout.
From there, he went through the Nasarawa Road to the Central Bank roundabout and the Government House.
It took the governor over three hours to get to the Government House.
After the rally, the governor went to the Government House where a reception was held in his honour.
