Today, the Supreme Court is set to determine the fate of nine governors whose victory in the governorship election on March 18, 2023, is under challenge. The apex court has heard cases from aggrieved candidates in Delta, Rivers, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Taraba, Sokoto, Gombe, Kaduna, and Ogun, reserving judgment.
A Supreme Court official, requesting anonymity, informed Vanguard that some judgments were rescheduled to Friday, with the court taking a break next week. Justice Inyang Okoro and Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun will lead panels deciding appeals, and despite a five-member panel hearing the cases, last Friday, eight Justices presided over the marathon judgments on governorship election appeals from eight states.
On Thursday, a court panel led by Justice Kekere-Ekun announced that it would deliver judgment on Friday regarding the appeal seeking to nullify Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s election in Gombe State. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mohammed Barde, are urging the apex court to overturn the concurrent verdict of the Court of Appeal and the Gombe State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which dismissed their case challenging Governor Yahaya’s victory. The panel approved the judgment after all parties presented their briefs of argument. Additionally, the court dismissed another appeal against Governor Yahaya’s election, filed by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Nafiu Bala.
The Appellant withdrew the case when the apex court panel pointed out that his argument relied on pre-election issues.
Similarly, the court deferred its judgment on the Kaduna state governorship election dispute after the parties presented their arguments. The PDP and its candidate, Mohammed Ashiru, are urging the court to remove Governor Uba Sani, who secured victory with the All Progressives Congress, APC.
INEC declared Governor Sani the winner with 730,001 votes, surpassing PDP’s Ashiru, who received 719,196 votes. Dissatisfied with the result, the PDP and its candidate contested it at the tribunal, alleging that Governor Uba was not duly elected by the majority of valid votes and that the election was marred by corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
………….
Note : To submit Press Releases, Statements, and Advert Inquiries for publication on Waffi blog (website) or Television 📺, please use the following contact details: You can send an email to info@waffitv.com or reach us via Whatsapp at 07068286500