Anxiety as S’Court decides seven governors’ fate today

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  • Lagos, Kano, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi, Bauchi Cross River governors on edge
  • Police tighten security in Kano
  • Apex Court affirms Umo Eno as Akwa Ibom governor

There is anxiety among the political class in Lagos, Kano, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi, Bauchi and Cross River States as the Supreme Court will today give judgment on governorship appeals concerning the states.

The apex court decisions on the governorship election appeals are the final.

Judgments on the Kano and Plateau appeals are the most anticipated, given that the lower courts had sacked the incumbent governors of these states.

Counsel representing the parties in the appeals from the two states vigorously argued their cases at the apex court, seeking to persuade the justices why the outcome should favour their clients.

In the Kano appeal, the tribunal had nullified the election of Governor Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party after declaring 165,663 of his votes invalid.

The tribunal held that the deducted votes were from ballot papers that were neither stamped nor signed.

He then approached the Appeal Court for redress.

The Appeal Court upheld the tribunal’s decision and faulted the lower court for not disqualifying the governor.

The appellate court said the governor was not properly sponsored by the NNPP, thus violating the provisions of Section 177 (c) of the constitution.

The court declared Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress winner of the election.

Yusuff will be hoping that the apex court reverses the lower courts’ decisions.

For Plateau, Caleb Mutfwang’s election was upheld by the Plateau State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Jos but the Appeal Court overturned Mutfwang’s victory and declared Nentawe Goshwe of the APC the winner of the election.

The court ruled that the failure of the PDP to comply with the order of the Plateau State High Court in Jos directing it to conduct valid ward, local governments, and state congresses before nominating its candidates for the various elective posts was a breach of the law.

The Appeal Court, for the same reason, sacked many lawmakers elected on the PDP platform in the state.

Police tighten security in Kano

Meanwhile, in a bid to forestall the breakdown of law and order, police authorities in Kano State have heightened security ahead of the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Kano governorship election.

The Supreme Court had reserved judgement on the exercise for today and hours before the delivery of the verdict, the Kano Police Command says it is ready to clampdown on those plotting mayhem before, during, and after the judgement.

During a press conference on Thursday, the Kano Police Commissioner Mohammed Usaini Gumel said parties in the case have also agreed to abide by the decision of the apex court.

“The opposition has also made up their mind that as a party, they will not support anybody taking the law into his hands or breaking the existing laws or going into a rampage or any kind of destruction,” he said, vowing to not “take it easy with” anyone planning “to take advantage” of the court verdict to go on a rampage in the state.

To match his words with action, security operatives comprising the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and others have been deployed to strategic points in the state.

In some parts of the North West state, sirens from security agents’ cars were heard blaring in the hot afternoon on the eve of the Supreme Court verdict.

“We have mobilised sufficient armed personnel to provide security at all flashpoints, including political party offices, Government House, INEC HQ, banks, commercial Areas, mosques, churches, recreation centres, and motor parks before, during, and after the judgment.

“I am giving 100 per cent assurance to all law-abiding residents of the state to go about freely with their legitimate daily activities without threat to lives and property,” the commissioner added.

Apex Court affirms Umo Eno as Akwa Ibom governor

In a related development, the Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Umo Eno of the People’s Democratic Party as the validly elected governor of Akwa Ibom State after dismissing the appeals of the three parties challenging the outcome of the election held on March 18 2023.

This comes after the apex court panel led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji dismissed the appeals of the All Progressives Congress, Young Progressives Party and the Action Alliance based on the non-qualification of the governor over allegations of certificate forgery, which the governor denied.

The Court of Appeal had upheld the judgment dismissing the suit challenging the primary that produced Umo Eno as the PDP candidate for the state.

Okon had prayed the court to disqualify Eno on grounds that he allegedly forged a West African Examination Certificate which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the election.

The appellate court had dismissed the suit for want of merit and awarded the sum of N15 million against the plaintiff.

The judge ruled that Okon’s arguments were based on assumption and that he was unable to prove to the court that Eno’s certificates were forged.