In landmark rulings this Wednesday, the Supreme Court affirmed the elections of some governors whose victory at the polls in the last general elections have been in contention.
Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa
The panel held that the appeal of David Ombugadu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the March 9, 2019 victory of Sule lacked merit.
David Umahi of Ebonyi
The unanimous judgement of the apex court, which was delivered by Justice Amina Adamu-Augie, dismissed the appeal challenging the election.
Babajide Sanwo-olu of Lagos State
A seven-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili affirmed the governor’s victory at the March 9, 2019 election after dismissing two separate appeals challenging the outcome of the poll.
Justice Paul Galinje, who delivered the lead judgments in the two appeals held that the appeals lacked merit.
One of the appeals dismissed by the court was filed by Prof. Ifagbemi Awamaridi and his party, the Labour Party.
The other was by Chief Owolabi Salis and his party, the Alliance Democracy.
Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State
The apex court dismissed the appeal filed by Adekunle Akinlade of Allied People’s Movement (APM) against the election of Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Justice Mary Odili, who delivered the unanimous judgement of the court, held that the appellants failed to discharge the burden of proof of the noncompliance with the Electoral Act as argued.
Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom
The apex court in a judgment delivered on Wednesday 18th December says the case filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress lacked merit.
The APC candidate in the March 9 governorship election, Obong Nsima Ekere, had challenged the victory of Emmanuel, who was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
In a judge delivered by Justice Mary Odili, the court says Ekere’s “appeal lacks merit and its accordingly dismissed.”
Mallam Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State
A panel headed by Justice Centus Nweze dismissed the appeal filed by Mr Isa Ashiru of the Peoples Democratic Party challenging the declaration of el-Rufai as winner of the March 2019 governorship election in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The apex court held that the appeal lacked merit as Justice Nweze read out the unanimous judgment of the panel.
