The Supreme Court in Lagos on Friday has rendered verdicts on several election-related cases, confirming the election victories of various candidates in different states.
- Zamfara State: The Supreme Court affirmed the election of Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Zamfara State Governor. This decision overturned the Court of Appeal’s declaration of the governorship election as inconclusive. The court held that the respondents failed to provide substantial evidence to prove allegations of overvoting, and it set aside the order for a rerun in three local government areas.
- Kano State: The court reinstated Abba Yusuff as the governor of Kano State, overturning the decisions of lower courts that had earlier sacked him. The New Nigeria Peoples Party candidate’s victory in the March 18, 2023, governorship election was initially annulled by the Governorship Election Tribunal due to invalidated votes. The Supreme Court, however, set aside the tribunal’s decision and faulted the lower court for not disqualifying the governor.
- Bauchi State: The Supreme Court also affirmed the election victory of Bala Mohammed as the governor of Bauchi State. The All Progressives Congress candidate, Sadique Abubakar, had alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act during the poll. However, the tribunal and the appeal court dismissed the petition for lack of merit, and the Supreme Court upheld these decisions.
- Lagos State: The court affirmed the election victory of Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the governor of Lagos State. The case, brought by the Labour Party candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, focused on the qualification of Sanwo-Olu’s running mate, Obafemi Hamzat. The Supreme Court held that Sanwo-Olu’s deputy is a Nigerian by birth, dismissing the appeal and confirming Sanwo-Olu’s victory.
- Plateau State: The Supreme Court upheld the election victory of Caleb Mutfwang as the governor of Plateau State. The appeal court had initially overturned the lower court’s decision, declaring Nentawe Goshwe of the APC the winner. The Supreme Court ruled that the APC and its candidate lacked the standing to challenge the PDP’s primary election and faulted the appeal court for sacking the governor.
- Abia State: The court affirmed the election of Alex Otti as the Governor of Abia State, dismissing appeals by the PDP and the APC. Otti, running on the Labour Party platform, secured victory in the March 18 governorship election.
These Supreme Court decisions have clarified and confirmed the outcomes of these gubernatorial elections in various states.