· No Surprises As All Six Govs Kept Their Seats
The Supreme Court on Friday, January 19, 2024 delivered ruling in six governorship disputes. The states that the apex court ruled on include Ogun, Delta, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Gombe and Kebbi states.
In Kaduna state, the Supreme Court upheld Sani Uba’s election as governor of the state. A five-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun held that the appeal by Isah Ashiru, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lacked merit.
Reacting to his victory, Sani while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today hours after the judgement, said the action of the PDP candidate deepens democracy and the rule of law.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank my brother and friend, Isah Ashiru, at least for embracing the legal process and ventilating his anger by going to the Supreme Court at this critical time,” he said.
“If you remember, he was at the tribunal. After the tribunal, he ran to the Court of Appeal, after the court of appeal now the Supreme Court. For me, what he did was commendable. That is the role of democracy.
“If you are not satisfied, you should approach the judiciary. Of course, that was what he did. Today it is clear that the Supreme Court unanimously affirmed my election. Of course, the judgement was extremely sound.”
In Nasarawa State, Sule who is still basking in the euphoria of his victory at the Supreme Court on Friday which affirmed his election, expressing his joy that the election litigation is over amid some pockets of protest in the state
Reacting to his victory at the apex court, Sule said, “I am happy it is over. It is finished, that is the end of it and we can now focus on the job and move on.”
The governor said he at no time entertained any fear of losing his seat ahead of the Apex Court judgement.
“I was expecting to win, the reason being first at the tribunal, we had three judges and they disagreed with themselves, they could not even agree, all the three of them. Two of them disagreed with us and therefore we lost, one of them had a very comprehensive report and he voted for us and said we won.
“We picked from there and went to the Appeal Court where there are now more experienced three judges; and all the three of them unanimously said we won, so you can imagine into the Supreme Court with a lot of confidence, I did not doubt in my mind about the fact that we are going to win,” he said.
In his defence of his victory in the polls, Governor Sule stated that he had been overwhelmingly voted for by the people of the state. He explained that his party had lost senatorial seats due to internal conflicts and not because of a decrease in support within the state.
The apex court also dismissed the appeal filed by Mister Aminu Bande of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to challenge the election victory of Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State.
In its verdict on Friday, the panel of justices unanimously held that the appeal lacked merit and no cost was awarded.
The case was not different in Gombe as the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Gombe State Jibrin Barde challenging the election of Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State.
While the tension was high in Ogun State, the apex court affirmed Dapo Abiodun’s election as the duy elected governor of the state.
After the Supreme Court upheld his election, the elected Ogun leader described the feat as a proud moment.
“To God be the Glory! Having manoeuvred through the intricate phases of the election petition tribunal, we can proudly proclaim that the Supreme Court has resoundingly affirmed our triumph,” he wrote on his official X account early Friday.
“This profound validation unquestionably attests to the unwavering trust the people of Ogun State have bestowed upon us, confident in our capability to forge a society brimming with prosperity and harmony. With utmost sincerity, we embrace this momentous responsibility and solemnly pledge to undertake it with utmost diligence.”
In Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori disclosed that he survived 38 cases in various courts from pre-election to post-election up to the Supreme Court to become Governor of the state.
Speaking at a thanksgiving service at the Government House Chapel in Asaba, the governor called on his opponents to partner with him to move Delta State forward.
“This victory is for our people to know that our God is faithful and He alone has delivered us.
This victory is for everyone and like I promised Deltans, I will be the governor for all Deltans,” he said.
Oborevwori stressed that God ordained him to be governor and thanked Deltans for supporting his ambition.
“I came to this altar before I went to Abuja for this last judgment and I said God is not a man that he should lie. I have promised God that every time He gives me victory, I must come here to thank Him.
“I have done it several times and I said I would also return the same day of the victory to thank God. For the Lord has redeemed me.
“This victory is not about me but about the people of Delta State. The immediate past governor said that somebody who would not recognise this altar will never be governor; God has honoured that word,” he said.
Oberevwori added: “This case made it 38 cases for me from pre-election matters to this one. Even the governors who have done eight years did not go through such a number of cases.”
The governor, who was earlier welcomed from Abuja by a mammoth crowd at the Asaba International Airport, said he was happy that the litigation was over, assuring that he would now concentrate on delivering on his MORE Agenda for the people.
Reacting to the judgement, the immediate past governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on his verified Facebook account, wrote: “This judgement truly underscores the trust and confidence that the people of our state, the Big Heart of our nation, have placed in the leadership of Governor Oborevwori’s administration and our great party.”
Also, former governor of the state, Emmanuel Uduaghan, said: “These cases have been quite trying, but for those that have passed through this route, propaganda was a big issue.
“We thank God for the overall result; it is now time to settle down fully and deliver the dividends of democracy.”
