Supreme Court upholds Ikpeazu, Ishaku, Bello, Okowa elections

The Supreme Court  Wednesday upheld the elections  governors of Abia, Taraba, Niger and Delta States as states helmsmen.

The governors are Okezies Ikpeazu (PDP), Darius Ishaku (PDP), Abubakar Bello (APC) and Ifeanyi Okowa (PDP).

At the onset of proceeding, counsel to Alex Otti, candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2019 governorship elections and APGA, Lateef Fagbemi, adopted his processes.

He said the claims by the Appellate Court that the documents tendered at the tribunal were dumped on the court should be set aside.

Fagbemi argued further that the findings by the Appellate Court that the documents tendered were not true certified document were also an error because the issue of proper certification did not arise.

He then prayed the court to allow the appeal and set aside the position of the Appellate Court and order a fresh election.

In his own argument, counsel to INEC, Zakawanu Garba asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal.

Towing the same line, counsel to Governor Ikpeazu, Wole Olanipekun also asked the court to dismiss the appeal, arguing that the appellant came third and merely wants to usurp Ikpeazu.

Delivering a lead judgment, Justice Amiru Sanusi, one of the panel members held that Otti’s appeal lacked merit and was liable for dismissal.

In the same vein, while affirming the elections of governor Ishaku Darius of Taraba, one of the seven-man panel, Justice Ejembi Eko affirmed that the counsel to the APC admitted that the party had no candidate in the election and therefore has no locus standi to contest the election of the governor.

The Judge added that the appellant conceded the fact and went ahead to suggest that the Supreme Court allow one professor to step into the shoes of the disqualified candidate.

Justice Eko held that the law is clear on the issue of disqualification of a candidate.

The Judge noted: “This petition is a mere academic exercise and cannot be given any value; and being an abuse of court process, complete distraction and wasteful exercise. it shall be and is hereby dismissed,”.

In the case of Okowa of the PDP, Justice Centus Nweze held that the appellant, Great Ogboru failed to prove allegations of over-voting.

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