SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES VERDICT ON SOME 2023 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of the Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule. The state election petition tribunal had sacked the governor and declared David Ombugadu, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, the winner of the March 18, 2023 election. But the appeal court reinstated Sule and held that the tribunal wrongly relied on the evidence of eight of the PDP witnesses, whose statements on oath were not front-loaded alongside the petition. Also, the Supreme Court has upheld the election of the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun. The appellants, Ladi Adebutu and the People’s Democratic Party prayed the apex court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct fresh elections in the ninety-nine polling units where elections were allegedly cancelled. The Appeal Court, Lagos Division, had in a split decision on November 24, 2023, affirmed Abiodun’s re-election

Furthermore, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed Ovie Omo-Agege’s appeal seeking to overturn Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s election as governor of Delta State. The apex court holds that the appellant is unable to prove his case of over- voting and noncompliance with the electoral laws. According to report, the justices are giving summary judgment for want of time, so as to accommodate other states’ appeals to be ruled upon.