Theres is tension as the Supreme Court delivers judgment on seven governorship appeals today, Friday January 12, 2024.
Daily Report Nigeria reports that the states the apex court will be delivering final judgment on are Lagos, Kano, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi, Bauchi, and Cross River.
Among the cases, judgements for Kano and Plateau appeals lead the list of most anticipated, owing to the sacking of elected governors by lower courts.
For instance, the tribunal in Kano nullified the election of Governor Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party after declaring 165,663 of his votes invalid.
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According to the tribunal, the deducted votes were from ballot papers that were neither stamped nor signed, forcing Yusuf to the appeal court for redress.
The appellate court upheld the ruling of the tribunal, adding that the governor was not properly sponsored by the NNPP, thus violating the provisions of Section 177 (c) of the constitution.
The court then declared Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress winner of the election.
Yusuff will be hoping that the apex court reverses the lower courts’ decisions.
For Plateau, Caleb Mutfwang’s election was upheld by the Plateau State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Jos but the appeal court overturned Mutfwang’s victory and declared Nentawe Goshwe of the APC the winner of the election.
The court ruled that the failure of the PDP to comply with the order of the Plateau State High Court in Jos directing it to conduct valid ward, local governments, and state congresses before nominating its candidates for the various elective posts was a breach of the law.
The appeal court, for the same reason, sacked many lawmakers elected on the PDP platform in the state.
