Barring last minute change of plan, the Supreme Court will today, Friday, January 12, give judgment on seven governorship appeals.
The states are Lagos, Kano, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi, Bauchi, and Cross River.
These judgments will address appeals related to governorship elections, and their outcomes are anticipated to have a substantial impact on the political dynamics in the respective states.
Yusuf vs Gawuna
Late December, the apex court reserved judgement in the appeal filed by the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, challenging the verdict of the Court of Appeal and the State Election Petitions Tribunal, which removed him from office.
Mutfwang vs Goshwe
On January 9, 2024, the Supreme Court reserved judgement in the appeal filed by the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, seeking to overturn the verdict of the Court of Appeal which nullified his election.
A five-member panel of justices led by Justice John Okoro reserved judgement after hearing arguments from parties for and against the appeal.
Lawal vs Matawalle
Last November, the Appeal Court nullified the election of Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal.
Lawal, of the main opposition PDP, was declared the winner of the March 18 governorship election. In a shocking victory that dislodged then-incumbent Bello Matawalle of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he polled a total of 377,726 votes. Matawalle scored 311,976 votes.
The PDP candidate, now serving as the Minister of State for Defence, had accused INEC of subverting his victory at the poll by failing to include the results of some ward areas.
Mohammed vs Abubakar
Also in November, the appellate court affirmed the victory of Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State in the March 18 governorship election.
The appeal was filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Sadique Abubakar, following the tribunal judgment upholding Mohammed’s victory.
The panel of three justices were unanimous, awarding no cost as the court ruled that each party to the matter should bear their costs.
Sanwo-Olu vs GRV, Jandor
The Appeal Court in Lagos in November affirmed the judgment of the tribunal, confirming the return of Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat as the Governor and Deputy Governor of Lagos state.
The justices of the court of appeal in a unanimous decision dismissed the appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) for lack of merit. In March, INEC declared Sanwo-Olu as the winner of the Lagos governorship election.
Nwifuru vs Odii
The Supreme Court had on Tuesday reserved judgement in the Ebonyi State governorship election appeal.
Last November, the Court of Appeal in Lagos had affirmed the election of APC’s Francis Nwifuru as the duly elected governor of Ebonyi State in the March 18 governorship election.
The three-member panel presided over by Justice Jummai Sankey, in its unanimous decision, dismissed the appeal filed by PDP’s Chukwuma Odii and upheld the earlier verdict of the tribunal but the PDP candidate approached the apex court to seek redress.
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