A 5-man panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Kudirat Kekere Ekun, has reserved judgment on two separate appeals challenging the outcome of March 18, governorship elections in Taraba and Sokoto states.
The apex court took the decision after various counsel had adopted their briefs of argument on Wednesday.
In the case of Taraba, the New Nigeria People’s Party NNPP and its governorship candidate, Prof Yahaya Sani are challenging declaration of Governor Kefas Agbu, of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP as winner of the gubernatorial election in the state.
Tabtge hearing, lead counsel to governor Agbu and PDP, Kanu Agabi SAN, asked the apex court to either strike out the case of the appellants or dismiss it outrightly.
Agabi told Justice Kekere-Ekun that the case of the NNPP and its governorship candidate was lacking in merit and substance.
He said that the appeal of the appellants was grossly incompetent to be considered because of the several flaws in the way the case was couched and presented at the Apex Court.
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC adopted the arguments canvassed by the governor’s lawyer in resolving the dispute on the governorship election.
Reacting, Olusegun Jolaawo SAN, lead counsel to the NNPP and Sani, appealed to the panel to allow the case of his clients and grant all the reliefs they are praying.
The Court of Appeal Abuja, had affirmed the election of PDP and Kefas Agbu as Governor of Taraba State.
The three-member panel of the appellate court in two separate appeals held that Agbu, was lawfully declared winner of the March 18 governorship election in Taraba State.
The appellate court held that the allegations of non-compliance, irregularities and other malpractices were not proved by the appellants in line with the provisions of the law.
Earlier, a three-man panel led by Justice G. A. Sunmonu of the Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had on September 30 dismissed the petition filed by the NNPP and its governorship candidate for lacking in merit.
Similarly, Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal filed against his election by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its governorship candidate, Sa’adu Umar.
At the hearing of the appeal on Wednesday, the governor’s lawyer Wole Olanipekun SAN, argued that the Sokoto State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and the Court of Appeal were completely right in their findings, conclusions and dismissal of the petition for lack of merit.
Olanipekun maintained that none of the allegations raised against the election of his client was established as required by law, thereby making the appeal liable to dismissal.
The All Progressives Congress, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, all adopted Olanipekun’s address in asking the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal.
On the other hand, the PDP and Umar, prayed the court to find merit in the appeal, set aside the findings and decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Tribunal which had last year dismissed the petition.
Lead counsel to the appellants, Sunday Ibrahim Ameh SAN, submitted that the case of his clients was meritorious and should be allowed.
After hearing the parties, the apex court reserved judgment on the appeal.
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