Supreme Court affirms APC’s Otu’s election as Cross River governor
By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State.
In a judgement a moment ago, the court dismissed the appeal filed by Professor Sandy Onor and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with which they sought to sack Governor Otu of the APC.
Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, in the lead judgment, held that the appellants failed to prove their case.
Justice Ogunwumiju proceeded to affirm the concurrent judgments of the election tribunal and Court of Appeal, which affirmed Otu’s election.
Supreme Court dismisses PDP’s case against Otti’s election as Abia governor
By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Abia State, Okechukwu Ahiwe seeking to sack Labour Party’s Alex Otti as the Governor of Abia State.
In a judgment a moment ago, the apex court held that the appeal was unmeritorious and proceeded to dismiss it
Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, who read the lead judgment held that the appellants (Ahiwe and the PDP) failed to prove their case that Otti was not qualified to contest the election and that the election was marred by substantial non-complaint.
Justice Abba-Aji proceeded to affirm the concurrent judgments of the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal.
The court is currently delivering its judgment another appeal filed by the APC and its candidate, Ikechi Emenike against Otti’s election.
Supreme Court upholds PDP’s Mutfwang’s election as Plateau Governor
By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
The Supreme Court has set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal sacking Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State.
The court, in a judgment on Friday, upheld the appeal filed by Muftwang on the ground that it was meritorious.
In the lead judgment, Justice Emmanuel Agim, the court affirmed the judgment of the election tribunal which had dismissed the petition by the APC and its candidate.
Justice Agim held that Muftwang was qualified to contest the election because the primary election that produced him was well conducted by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP.
The court held that the tribunal lacked the jurisdiction to hear the petition that queried the nomination and sponsorship of Mutfwang and that the APC, not being a member of the PDP lacked the right to challenge the way it got its candidate.
He held that there was no evidence that the PDP disobeyed an order issued by the Plateau State High Court ordering fresh congresses for the constitution of the state executive committee of the party.
BREAKING: Supreme Court okays APC’s Nwifuru’s election as Ebonyi governor
By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
The Supreme Court on Friday, January 12, affirmed the election of Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State.
The court, in a unanimous judgment, dismissed the appellant by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last governorship election, Chukwuma Odii Ifeanyi because it was without merit.
In the lead judgment, Justice Tijjani Abubakar held that the appellants failed to prove their case before the trial court that the election was marred by non-compliance with relevant laws and that Nwifuru was not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the time of the election.
Justice Abubakar affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on November 24, which upheld the tribunal judgment that allowed Nwifuru’s election.
BREAKING: Supreme Court affirms Lawal’s election as Zamfara governor
By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
The Supreme Court has set aside the November 16 judgment of the Court of Appeal voiding the election of Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.
In a judgment a moment ago, the court allowed the appeal filed by Lawal and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In the lead judgment, Justice Emmanuel Agim held that the trial tribunal was right to have affirmed Lawal’s election and that the decision of the Court of Appeal was given without evidential foundation.
The Court of Appeal had among others, nullified the election in some polling units in a Local Government in the state and ordered a fresh election within 90 days
Supreme Court upholds NNPP’s Yusuf election as Kano governor
By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Kano state governor, Yusuf Abba Kabir of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The court, in a judgment on Friday, January 12, held that the appeal by Yusuf and his party was meritorious.
Justice John Okoro, who read the lead judgment, set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal and that of the election tribunal that had sacked the NNPP candidate.
Justice Okoro held that the two lower courts were wrong to have deducted 165,616 votes from the score of the NNPC and that he was not qualified to contest the election because he was not a member of the NNPP at the time of the election.
The two lower courts had held in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate.
Supreme Court affirms Abba Yusuf as governor of Kano
By Samuel Oamen
The Supreme Court has set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which nullified the election of Governor Kabir Yusuf of Kano state.
A five-member panel of justices on Friday, January 12, unanimously held that the lower court misunderstood the import of the purported deduction of 165,616 ballot papers in favour of Governor Yusuf.
The lead judgment by Justice Inyang Okoro also held that the issue of Governor Yusuf’s membership was a pre-election matter.
He said the finding that by Section 177(c) of the Nigerian Constitution and Section 134(1) of the Electoral Act, Governor Yusuf was not sponsored by the NNPP, was not a finding of the electoral tribunal but a mere observation that his name was not contained in the membership list
“This court has consistently maintained that the issue of nomination or sponsorship of a candidate for an election is completely an exclusive prerogative of the political party,” he held.
Supreme Court affirms Bala Mohammed’s election as Bauchi governor
By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a judgment on Friday, January 12, the court held that the appellants – Abubakar Sadique Baba and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) failed to prove their case.
Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, in the lead judgment, resolved the six issues identified for determination in the appeal, against the appellants.
Justice Saulawa held that the appeal was without merit and proceeded to dismiss it.
The court has commenced the delivery of judgment in the case relating to the dispute over the last governorship election in Kano State.
Supreme Court dismisses PDP’s Adediran’s case against Sanwo-Olu
By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Azeez Adediran in which he had sought to sack Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Justice Adamu Jauro, who read the lead judgment, held that the appeal was without merit.
Supreme Court dismisses Rhodes-Vivour’s case against Sanwo-Olu
By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour seeking to void the election of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
In a judgment on Friday, January 12, the apex court held that the appeal was unmeritorious.
Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, in the lead judgment, held that the acquisition of the citizenship of the United States by Deputy Governor, Femi Hamzat did not rob him of his Nigerian citizenship, being a citizen by birth.
Justice Garba held a Nigerian citizen by birth, who acquires citizenship of another country cannot be qualified from contesting for an elective position, except where the person renounces the Nigerian citizens in a manner provided by Section 29 of the Constitution.
He further held that Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat were qualified to contest the election.
The court affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which earlier upheld the election of Sanwo-Olu.
Details shortly…
Supreme Court affirms Sanwo-Olu’s election as governor of Lagos
By Samuel Oamen
The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Babajide Sanwo-Olu as Governor of Lagos State.
Justice Garba Lawal who read the lead judgment dismissed the appeal filed by Mr Rhodes-Vivour.
He held that the deputy governor was duly qualified to contest the election.
Details shortly…
Four governors arrive Supreme Court ahead of judgments in eight states
By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
Four Governors have arrived at the Supreme Court preparatory to the commencement of the court proceedings for the day.
The governors are Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Abba Yusuf of kano State, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.
Also in court is the immediate past Governor of Plateau State, Senator Simon Lalong.
The court is expected to deliver judgments in governorship disputes in eight states – Lagos, Plateau, Bauchi, Kano, Abia, Ebonyi Zamfara, and Cross River state.
Details shortly….
Security beefed up around Supreme Court ahead of Kano, seven other Governorship disputes
Heavy security has been beefed around the Supreme Court of Nigeria Complex in the three arms zones of Abuja ahead of the for judgment in the Kano State governorship election appeal.
The apex court will also deliver judgment in 7 states – Lagos, Plateau, Bauchi, Abia, Ebonyi Zamfara, and Cross River state.
The court begins sitting by 9a.m.
NAN reports that Judgments in the Kano and Plateau appeals are the most anticipated, because the lower courts had sacked the incumbent governors.
NAN correspondent who arrived the court complex around 7.15a.m on Friday reports heavy security has been built around the area possibly to ensure a hitch-free proceedings.
NAN also observed that security operatives from regular and plain-clothed police units have been deployed to the Court’s main entrance to block unauthorised movements of human and vehicles into the complex premises.
NAN reports that though only lawyers and parties involved in the matter were permitted, hundreds of supporters of the parties could be seen trying to gain access to the premises.
NAN reports that journalists were also having difficulty finding their way into the court premises.
NAN reports that Kano state governor, AbbaYusuf, and his party NNPP, had filed an appeal against the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which had affirmed his sacking as earlier pronounced by the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
The tribunal had sacked Yusuf and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw his certificate of return and instead issue same to to Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.
However, not satisfied with the Tribunal judgment, Yusuf had approached the Appeal Court. But the appellate court had while affirming his sack, further held that the governor was not a member of the party as of the time of the election and could not have been said to have been properly sponsored for the election.
NAN also reports that for Plateau, Gov. Caleb Mutfwang’s election was upheld by the Plateau State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Jos but the appeal court overturned his victory and declared Nentawe Goshwe of the APC the winner of the election.
The court ruled that the failure of the PDP to comply with the order of the Plateau State High Court in Jos directing it to conduct valid ward, local governments, and state congres
