By Vivian Okejeme Abuja
The Supreme Court of Nigeria, Thursday, affirmed the elections of Governors Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state, Kefas Agbu of Taraba and Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto state.
The five-man panel of justices of the Apex court, had in separate judgments, unanimously dismissed the different appeals for lacking in merit.
RIVERS
Recall that the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos, had on November 28, 2023, affirmed the election of Fubara as the governor of Rivers State.
The court had dismissed the petition filed by Fubara of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Patrick Tonye-Cole, against Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
TARABA
In the case of Taraba state, the appeal was filed by Prof. Yahaya Sani of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) for grossly lacking in merit.
Prof. Sani had prayed the apex court to set aside the victory of Governor Kefas Agbu, in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.
He had alleged non compliance with the Electoral Act, irregularities and other malpractices, but the appellate court dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.
SOKOTO
Similarly, the Supreme Court affirmed the election of Ahmad Aliyu as governor of Sokoto state.
Aliyu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of the governorship election with 453,661 votes to defeat Sai’du Umar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who secured 404,632 votes.
But Umar alleged that the governor and his deputy Idris Gobir, forged the certificates they presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The petitioners also alleged electoral fraud during the poll.
The tribunal in its judgment said the petitioners were unable to prove the six grounds contained in their petition.
