The Supreme Court of Nigeria has Declared Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, Sherrif Oborevwori of Delta State, Nasir Idris Kauran of Kebbi State, and Uba Sani of Kaduna as Duly Elected Governors of their various states.
The apex court led by Justice Inyang Okoro, delivered the judgements on Friday, January 19, 2024.
Recall that on Friday, last week the court delivered judgments for Kano, Plateau, Lagos, Ebonyi, Cross River, Zamfara, Bauchi, and Abia States.
The court declared Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Alex Otti of Abia State, Abba Yusuf of Kano State, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, Bassey Otu of Cross River State as duly elected Governors of their respective States.
However, in its lead judgement today read by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the court affirmed the election of Abdullahi Sule as the Governor of Nasarawa State.
The court held that the decision of the court of appeal, which affirmed Sule’s election, was “comprehensive and well-considered”, therefore, dismissed the appeals filed by David Ombugadu, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last governorship elections.
For Ogun State, the court declared Dapo Abiodun as the duly elected governor of the state.
In a judgement by Justice Tijjani Abubakar, the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ladi Adebutu, against the governorship election of Abiodun as the governor.
For Delta State, the court declared Sheriff Oborevwori as the duly elected governor of the state.
In a unanimous decision, the apex court dismissed an appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, challenging the outcome of the governorship election held in the state on March 18, 2023.
The five panel of justices ruled that the appeal lacked merit as the APC and its candidate could not prove that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act 2023.
For Gombe State, the court declared Inuwa Yahaha as the duly elected governor of the state.
The five-member panel dismissed an appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its candidate, Mohammed Barde, filed to challenge the outcome of the governorship election that was held in the state on March 18, 2023.
The apex court, in its lead judgement delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, validated the decisions of the Court of Appeal and Gombe State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which held that the case the appellants raised against the election lacked merit.
For Kebbi State, the court declared Nasir Idris as the duly elected governor of the state.
In a unanimous decision by a five-member panel, dismissed as lacking in merit, an appeal brought before it by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Aminu Bande.
In a judgement delivered by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, the Supreme Court held that it found no reason to set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal and the Kebbi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which declared Nasir of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the valid winn
For Kaduna State, the court declared Uba Sani as the duly elected governor of the state.
The court dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Isah Ashiru, challenging the election of Uba Sani in the last governorship election in Kaduna State.
In his reaction, Governor Uba Sani commended the Honourable Justices of the Supreme Court for their sound judgement.
He also thanked Hon. Isa Ashiru for embracing the legal process and ventilating his grievances.
He said, “with the legal disputations over, it is time for us to join hands to take Kaduna State to a higher level.
“We are running a people-centered, inclusive, and, pro-development administration. Our doors are open to all stakeholders in the Kaduna Project.
“Any citizen of Kaduna State who has something to contribute will be given an opportunity. It is about the glory of Kaduna State, not personal glory.
“Today’s verdict by the Supreme Court is a reminder to all of us that we were given a mandate to better the lots of our people.
“Rather than engage in wild celebrations, we must reflect on the challenges ahead and collectively apply ourselves to the tasks at hand”, he said.
