The Supreme Court delivered judgments on Friday regarding appeals challenging the outcome of governorship elections in Gombe, Kebbi, Ogun, Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Delta states.
Last week, the apex court decided the fate of 10 state governors.
These include Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Alex Otti of Abia, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, alongside Cross River Governor Bassey Otu, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuff, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, and Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
In all the decided cases, no governor was removed from office.In the case of Ogun, the apex court affirmed the election of the governor, Dapo Abiodun.
The appellants, Ladi Adebutu and the Peoples Democratic Party, prayed to the apex court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct fresh elections in the 99 polling units where elections were allegedly canceled.
The Appeal Court, Lagos Division, had, in a split decision on November 24th, 2023, affirmed Abiodun’s re-election.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court affirmed the election of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori.
The court dismissed the appeals by the All Progressives Congress and its candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege, and the Labour Party and its candidate, Ken Pella, against the governor.
In the Omo-Agege appeal, the five-member panel led by Justice John Okoro stated that the appeal lacked merit, and the appellant was unable to discharge the burden of proof placed on him.
Additionally, the apex court affirmed the election of Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule.
The tribunal had initially sacked the governor, declaring David Ombugadu, candidate of the PDP, as the winner of the March 18, 2023 election.
However, the appeal court reinstated Sule, noting that the tribunal wrongly relied on the evidence of eight PDP witnesses, whose statements on oath were not front-loaded alongside the petition.
Reading the lead judgment, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun held that the appeal lacked merit.
Regarding the Gombe election, the Supreme Court on Friday declined to nullify the election of Governor Inuwa Yahaya.
In a unanimous decision by a five-member panel, the apex court dismissed an appeal that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mohammed Barde, filed to challenge the outcome of the governorship election held in the state on March 18, 2023.
Moreover, the Supreme Court affirmed the election of the Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris.
INEC had declared the state election inconclusive following cancellation and over-voting in some Local Government Areas.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also affirmed the election of Uba Sani as Kaduna State governor.
The court dismissed the appeal by the PDP and its governorship candidate, Mohammed Ashiru Isa.
Reading the lead judgment, Justice Tijani Abubakar held that the appellant had nothing useful to ask this court, upholding the judgment of the lower courts affirming the election of the Governor.