The Supreme Court affirms the elections of Governors in Rivers, Sokoto, and Taraba States, dismissing appeals against their victories.

 

 

At the Supreme Court, where the last set of appeals on governorship elections are being decided today, the journey began with the dismissal of an appeal by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Tonye Cole, in the Rivers State governorship election. Cole’s plea against the election of Governor Siminalayi Fubara was dismissed for lacking merit. He alleged irregularities in the election and argued that Fubara did not validly resign his previous position, as required by law, before the election. Both the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal had earlier rejected his case, citing a lack of merit.

 

Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, reading the lead judgment, upheld the unanimous decision of the five-man panel, stating that Cole failed to substantiate his allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act during the election.

 

Similarly, the Supreme Court affirmed Kefas Agbu as the Governor of Taraba State, dismissing an appeal by Prof. Yahaya Sani of the NNPP for grossly lacking in merit. Sani had sought to set aside Governor Agbu’s victory, alleging non-compliance with the Electoral Act, irregularities, and other malpractices.

 

Continuing its decisions, the Apex Court also affirmed Ahmed Aliyu as the Governor of Sokoto State, dismissing the appeal of Sadiu Umar of the PDP. The court held that Umar’s case was devoid of merit, thereby upholding Aliyu’s victory in Sokoto State.