The Supreme Court will today, Friday, deliver judgements in seven governorship appeals challenging the verdict of the Court of Appeal and State Election Petitions Tribunal.
The States are Lagos, Kano, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi, Bauchi and Cross-River.
Recall that in Kano State late December, the apex court reserved judgement in the appeal filed by the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, challenging the verdict of the Court of Appeal and the State Election Petitions Tribunal, which removed him from office.
The five-member panel, led by Justice John Okoro reserved the judgement after the parties adopted their brief of arguments.
In September, the tribunal nullified the victory of Yusuf, the candidate of the New Nigerias Peoples Party (NNPP) in the March 18 governorship election.
The tribunal also affirmed Nasiru Gawuna, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected governor of Kano.
On November 13, the Court of Appeal upheld the verdict of the tribunal. In its ruling, the Appeal Court agreed with the judgement of the tribunal, ruling that the fielding of Abba Yusuf was in breach of the Electoral Law as he was not qualified to contest that election. But, the governor proceeded to the Supreme Court to seek redress.
In Plateau State, on January 9, 2024, the apex court reserved judgement in the appeal filed by the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, seeking to overturn the verdict of the Court of Appeal which nullified his election.
A 5-member panel of justices, led by Justice John Okoro, reserved judgement after hearing arguments from parties for and against the appeal.
In November, the Appeal Court in Abuja sacked Mutfwang and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to Goshwe, but the governor proceeded to the apex court to seek redress.
In the case of Zamfara State, last November, the Appeal Court nullified the election of the State Governor Dauda Lawal.
Lawal, of the main opposition PDP, was declared the winner of the March 18 governorship election. In a shocking victory that dislodged then-incumbent Bello Matawalle, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he polled a total of 377,726 votes. Matawalle scored 311,976 votes.
The PDP candidate, now serving as the Minister of State for Defence, had accused INEC of subverting his victory at the poll by failing to include the results of some ward areas.
In an earlier ruling on September 18, the Zamfara Election Petitions Tribunal held that the petition was devoid of merit. While upholding Lawals victory, the tribunal awarded the N500,000 fine against the petitioners.
An unsatisfied Matawalle took the matter to the Court of Appeal in Abuja, to challenge the decision of the lower court.
Respite came for Matawalle, as the three-member panel led by Justice Oyebisi Folayemi, nullified the return of Governor Lawal as the winner of the governorship poll.
Justice Sybil Nwaka ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election in three local government areas of the State, where elections had not been held previously or where results from various polling units were not counted. But the governor proceeded to the apex court to seek redress.
As for Bauchi, also in November, the appellate court affirmed the victory of Governor Bala Mohammed in the March 18 governorship election.
The appeal was filed by the APC governorship candidate, Sadique Abubakar, following the tribunal judgment upholding Mohammeds victory.
The panel of three justices were unanimous, awarding no cost as the court ruled that each party to the matter should bear their costs
In Lagos State, the Appeal Court in November affirmed the judgment of the tribunal, confirming the return of Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat as the Governor and Deputy Governor of the state. The justices of the court of appeal, in a unanimous decision dismissed the appeal of the PDP and the Labour Party (LP) for lack of merit.
In March, INEC declared Sanwo-Olu as the winner of the Lagos governorship election. Not satisfied, the LP and PDP candidates approached the Lagos State Election Petitions Tribunal to nullify Sanwo-Olus victory.
In its ruling on September 25, the tribunal dismissed Adediran and Rhodes-Vivours suit seeking to nullify the victory of Sanwo-Olu at the poll. Displeased with the verdict, the duo approached the appellate court but the higher court dismissed their suits. Both men subsequently approached the apex court which is expected to deliver a judgement today.
For Ebonyi State, the Supreme Court had on Tuesday reserved judgement in the governorship election appeal.
Last November, the Court of Appeal in Lagos had affirmed the election of APCs Francis Nwifuru as the duly elected governor of Ebonyi State in the March 18 governorship election. The 3-member panel presided over by Justice Jummai Sankey, in its unanimous decision, dismissed the appeal filed by PDPs Chukwuma Odii and upheld the earlier verdict of the tribunal but the PDP candidate approached the apex court to seek redress.
