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Another set of governors receive good fortune as the supreme court gives rulings in their favor. Kebbi, Gombe and Kaduna state governors have been declared winners of the election cases filed against them.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria dismissed the appeal filed by Jibrin Barde, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, against the election of Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State. The appellate court asserted that the petitioners failed to substantiate their allegations of non-qualification, perjury, and certificate forgery raised in the petition. The five-member panel, led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, affirmed the concurrent judgment of the lower courts, with Justice Kekere-Ekun finding no grounds for interference from the apex court.
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court also dismissed the appeal filed by Isah Ashiru, the PDP governorship candidate, challenging the election of Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State. The apex court affirmed the judgments of the lower courts, including the tribunal and the court of appeal, which upheld Uba Sani's victory in the March 2023 governorship election. No costs were awarded in this judgment.
The Supreme Court further affirmed the election of Nasir Idris of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor of Kebbi State. In a unanimous judgment, the five-member panel, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, dismissed the appeal filed by Bande Aminu, the PDP candidate in the last governorship election in the state. Justice Abba-Aji held that the appeal was without merit.
It is noteworthy that the Supreme Court has now rendered verdicts on six states, consistently affirming the governorship status of the winners in the last elections.
