After months of suspense and tension generated by the validity or otherwise of the 2023 governorship elections across the country, the Supreme Court will, Friday(today), become the cynosure of all eyes as it delivers judgements in seven governorship appeals, starting at 9am.
The affected states are Lagos, Kano, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi, Bauchi and Cross River.
The apex court had reserved rulings in its judgement after submissions by parties in the appeal, a development that generated quite a lot of tension among both the plaintiffs and the appellants, as well as their supporters.
Enoh triumphs
But in contrast, the Supreme Court quashed three appeals seeking to remove Akwa Ibom state Governor Umo Eno of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from office.
Hearing the first appeal filed by APC’s Akanimo Udofia marked SC/CV/1230/2023; the Justice Uwani Abba-Aji-led panel said there was nothing new in the appeal that required the court’s consideration.
It held that the concurrent judgments by the two lower courts had effectively dealt with the inherent issues raised in the matter.
The panel averred that both the tribunal and the court of appeal acted rightly by pronouncing that the appellants failed to establish their claims that the governor forged his West African Examination Council (WAEC) result and also that he was an ex-convict.
At this point, the panel ordered the appellants’ lawyer, Hassan Liman (SAN), to withdraw the appeal, and upon complying, the court stuck out the case.
Similarly, the court dismissed the appeal by Bassey Akpan and the Young People’s Party (YPP), holding that the appeal was similar to that of theAll Progressives Congress (APC).
And like Liman, the panel ordered the appellants’ lawyer, Tunde Falola, to withdraw the case, and upon complying, it was dismissed.
…Kano
At the close of the year 2023, the Supreme Court reserved judgement in the appeal filed by Kano state Governor Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria’s Peoples Party (NNPP) in the March 18 governorship election.
His election was quashed by both the tribunal and the appellate court, following which the governor headed to the Supreme Court to seek redress.
Both the tribunal and the appeal court declared Nasiru Gawuna of the APC as the duly elected governor.
Like the tribunal, the appellate court held that the NNPP’s decision to field Yusuf was in violation of the Electoral Law, and that he was therefore not qualified to contest the poll.
Plateau
In Plateau state, the Supreme Court also reserved ruling Tuesday in the appeal filed by Governor Caleb Mutfwang of the PDP, whose election is being challenged by the APC’s Nentawe Goshwe.
Having lost at the appeal court, the governor headed to apex court where, through his counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), he urged the court to uphold the tribunal’s verdict and shove aside that of the appeal.
He argued that the respondents (Goshwe and APC) lacked the right to question how the party’s decision on the choice of its state executives.
A five-member panel of justices led by Justice John Okoro reserved judgement after hearing arguments from parties for and against the appeal.
Zamfara
And in Zamfara, Governor Dauda Dare Lawal’s election was nullified by the appeal court.
Lawal, who contested on the PDP platform, defeated the then-incumbent APC’s Bello Matawalle, the current Minister of State for Defence.
Upholding Lawal’s victory, the tribunal ruled that Matawalle’s petition lacked merit, and therefore declared the governor as being duly elected and consequently awarded N500, 000 as fine against the petitioners.
However, Lawal’s victory was short-lived as Matawalle and his party took the matter to appeal which ruled in their favour, consequent upon which the governor sought redress at the Supreme Court.
Bauchi
And from Bauchi, Governor Abdulkadir Bala Mohammed’s double victory at both the tribunal and the appeal court, will be put to test at the Supreme Court.
While Bala contested on the PDP platform, his challenger and former Chief of Air Staff, Ambassador Sadique Abubakar, flew the APC’s flag at the poll.
Lagos
From Lagos, the Labour Party (LP)’s flag bearer in the contest, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, is waiting on the apex court over the double victory Babajide Sanwo-Olu won at the tribunal and the appeal court.
The appellate court dismissed the appeal of both LP and the PDP as lacking in merit.
Abdulazeez Adediran otherwise called Jandor, came a distant third after the LP candidate who came second at the poll.
Ebonyi, Ogun
Like Plateau state, the Supreme Court reserved ruling in the Ebonyi state governorship election appeal.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos, had pronounced APC’s Francis Nwifuru as validly elected during the poll.
The three-member panel had in unanimity, thrown out the PDP’s Chukwuma Odii’s appeal and concurred with the tribunal over its decision to uphold Nwifuru’s election.
Like others, Ogun state Governor Dapo Abiodun’s fate also stands to be determined by the apex court, as his main challenger, Oladipupo Adebutu of the PDP insists the governor was not duly elected.
Adebutu and his party, the PDP, lost at both the tribunal and appellate levels to Abiodun and APC, his party.
APC calls for calm
Meanwhile, the Plateau chapter of the APC Thursday called on its members and supporters to remain calm ahead of the final judgement at the Supreme Court.
The state publicity secretary of the party, Mr Sylvanus Namang, urged the people to be calm and refrain from any act contrary to the party’s culture.
“Whatever direction the decision of the apex court goes, the APC, which has been a respecter of the rule of law and a strong believer in our judicial system, would welcome the outcome in good faith.
“The APC enjoins security agencies in the state to be extra vigilant to ensure that law and order are maintained.
“The party wishes to restate its position on respect for constitutionalism and the rule of law, which are sacrosanct for democracy and good governance,’’ he said. (NAN)
