Supreme Court Affirms Sanwo-Olu’s Election As Governor Of Lagos

As of January 12, 2024, the Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the Governor of Lagos State. This decision upholds the earlier rulings of the tribunal and the Appeal Court in the state, confirming Sanwo-Olu’s victory.

The case brought by the Labour Party candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, centered on the qualification of Sanwo-Olu’s running mate, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat. Rhodes-Vivour claimed that Hamzat had renounced his Nigerian citizenship. However, the Supreme Court ruled that Sanwo-Olu’s deputy is a Nigerian by birth. The court further stated that the renunciation of citizenship by a citizen by birth must be registered by the Nigerian president, and the appellant failed to provide evidence of such registration.

The appeal by the Labour Party candidate was dismissed by the court for lacking merit.

Additionally, Abdulazeez Adediran, also known as Jandor, of the PDP, argued that the name Sanwo-Olu submitted to INEC was different from that on his WAEC certificate. The Supreme Court, while dismissing this appeal, described it as “academic.”

With the dismissal of both appeals from the Labour Party and the PDP, it confirms that Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the duly elected governor of Lagos State.

Supreme Court Declares Bala Mohammed As Duly Elected Governor Of Bauchi State

As of January 12, 2024, the Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Bala Mohammed as the governor of Bauchi State. The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Sadique Abubakar, had made efforts at the lower courts to contest Mohammed’s election but was unsuccessful.

Abubakar’s claims of massive non-compliance with the Electoral Act during the poll were dismissed for lack of merit by both the tribunal and the appellate court. The courts held that he failed to prove his allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

In the lead judgment delivered on Friday, Justice Ibrahim Saulawa resolved all six issues against the appellant and declared that the appeal was devoid of merit.

Governor Bala Mohammed, in his reaction posted on social media, dedicated the victory to the people of Bauchi State and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He expressed gratitude to all stakeholders who supported him in the journey, including religious and faith leaders, political associates, friends, and well-wishers. The governor emphasized that this victory reaffirms the commitment to the good work in Bauchi State. He concluded by using the hashtag #GreaterBauchi.

 Supreme Court reinstates Kano governor

As of the latest information, the Supreme Court has overturned the decisions of the lower courts that nullified the election of Kano State Governor, Yusuf Abba.

The tribunal initially invalidated 165,663 votes for Governor Yusuf Abba of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, stating that the deducted votes were from ballot papers that were neither stamped nor signed. Governor Abba appealed this decision to the appellate court, which upheld the tribunal’s ruling and criticized the lower court for not disqualifying the governor.

The appellate court argued that the governor was not properly sponsored by the New Nigeria Peoples Party, violating Section 177 (c) of the constitution. The court then declared Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the election.

However, at the Supreme Court, Justice John Okoro ordered the restoration of all the ballot papers from which the appellant’s votes were deducted to the governor. Justice Okoro emphasized that these ballot papers contained the logo of INEC and the coat of arms, meeting the requirements of the Electoral Act.

Furthermore, Justice Okoro stated that the issue of party membership is an internal affair of the party. Therefore, the Supreme Court’s decision reinstates Governor Yusuf Abba and rejects the previous rulings that nullified his election.

ZAMFARA: SUPREME COURT AFFRIMS GOV LAWAL-DARE(PDP), 

As of the latest information, the Supreme Court has affirmed Dauda Lawal-Dare, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as the duly elected and returned Governor of Zamfara State. This decision relates to the Governorship poll held on 18th March.

Initially, the tribunal had unanimously upheld the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration and return of Lawal-Dare following a petition by Bello Matawalle of the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, Justice Sybil Nwaka-Gbagi JCA of the Appeal Court, while reading the lead judgment, ordered a re-run election in several wards in three Local Government Areas (LGAs).

Not satisfied with the outcome, Governor Lawal-Dare approached the Supreme Court seeking a reversal of the Appeal Court’s judgment. In his argument, he contended that the decision of the Court of Appeal had no evidential foundation.

The Supreme Court’s decision, in this case, affirms Dauda Lawal-Dare as the validly elected Governor of Zamfara State, overturning the specific orders for re-run elections in certain wards and LGAs issued by the Appeal Court.