Wednesday saw the Supreme Court affirm the victory of Ahmadu Fintiri in the March 18 governorship election in Adamawa State, dismissing an appeal by the Social Democratic Party and its candidate, Umar Ardo, that sought to invalidate Fintiri’s win.
Leading a five-man panel of Supreme Court Justices, Justice John Okoro dismissed the appeal after the SDP opted to withdraw the appeal through its counsel, Sylvester Imhanobe. Both the Adamawa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and the Court of Appeal in Abuja had previously ruled against the SDP case concerning Fintiri.
The SDP’s petition contested that the election’s conduct did not adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022. During Wednesday’s proceedings, the Supreme Court Justices pressed the SDP lawyer to explain how the election diverged from the procedures outlined in the Electoral Act. Despite concerted efforts, Imhanobe failed to persuade the court, leading to the withdrawal of the case and its subsequent dismissal.
Finitiri still faces the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress and its candidate, Aishatu Dahiru, who is seeking to be declared the governor of the state.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has deferred judgment on the appeals by the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress challenging the election of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.
The five-man panel, led by Justice Okoro, adjourned for judgment after hearing arguments from the involved parties in the matters.
Otti of the Labour Party secured 175,466 votes, defeating his closest rival, Okey Ahiwe of the PDP, who garnered 88,529 votes in the March 18 governorship election.
The Court of Appeal in Lagos and the election petition tribunal had both dismissed the petitions by Ahiwe and Ikechi Emenike of the APC.
The APC and the PDP are both petitioning the apex court to annul Otti’s election.
At the apex court on Wednesday, the counsel for Ahiwe, Uche Ihediuwa (SAN), alleged that the votes his client obtained in the Obingwa Local Government Area were unjustly reduced. He claimed, “Our client had 108,000 votes in Obingiwa Local Government. In breach of the rules, the results were not computed. The first respondent (INEC) reduced our votes from 108,000 to 20,000 in Obingiwa Local Government.”
Conversely, counsel for the LP, Owonikoko Abiodun (SAN), contended that the number of votes the PDP candidate claimed to have polled in the LG exceeded the number of voters accredited for the House of Assembly held on the same day. He noted that their evidence was rejected by the lower courts but emphasized that his client had 174,000 votes. He stated, “In the House of Assembly election held on the same day, the total number of votes was 27,000 while that of the governorship was 108,000.”
Making his submissions at the apex court on Wednesday, the counsel for Ahiwe, alleged that the votes garnered by his client in the Obingwa Local Government Area were illegally reduced.
He said, “Our client had 108,000 votes in Obingiwa Local Government. In breach of the rules, the results were not computed. The first respondent (INEC) reduced our votes from 108,000 to 20,000 in Obingiwa Local Government. Our agent was chased away from the Abia State Governorship Election Collation Centre.”
“We tried to access the iReV but were denied access. When there is a dispute, the Returning Officers ought to go to iRev. She came back from Abuja and announced the result.”
