By Gloria Ogbonna
The Supreme Court is poised to render critical judgments today on the appeals challenging the electoral victories of nine governors in the March 18, 2023, governorship elections. States awaiting the apex court's decisions include Delta, Rivers, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Taraba, Sokoto, Gombe, Kaduna, and Ogun.
A top official at the Supreme Court, preferring anonymity, disclosed that judgments on some cases were expedited to Friday, with the court having vacated its schedule for the upcoming week, allowing its justices a well-deserved respite from their exhaustive workload.
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Justice Inyang Okoro will preside over one panel tasked with deciding on certain appeals, while another panel will be led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. Although all the cases were heard by a five-member panel, last Friday's session saw eight justices, underlining the significance of the appeals.
The Supreme Court had previously delivered judgments on appeals from eight states in a marathon session.
In a notable case, the Supreme Court panel led by Justice Kekere-Ekun announced its intent to deliver judgment on the appeal challenging the election of Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mohammed Barde, sought to overturn the decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Gombe State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, both of which dismissed their case challenging Yahaya's victory. The court, after the adoption of briefs of argument, reserved the matter for judgment.
Furthermore, an appeal against Governor Yahaya's election by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Nafiu Bala, was dismissed by the court. The appellant withdrew the matter after the court noted that it was based on pre-election issues.
The Supreme Court also reserved its judgment in the Kaduna State governorship election dispute. The PDP and its candidate, Mohammed Ashiru, are urging the court to nullify the victory of Governor Uba Sani, who secured the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Dissatisfied with the election results, the PDP and Ashiru approached the tribunal, alleging irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
The outcomes of these cases have significant implications for the political landscapes of the respective states involved, setting the stage for potential shifts in leadership and governance.
Source vanguard
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