Supreme Court Reserves Judgment in Adamawa Gubernatorial Dispute

By Iyojo Ameh

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has kept the nation in suspense as it reserved judgment on Monday regarding the appeal filed by Aisha Dahiru, the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), challenging the re-election of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa.

The five-member panel, headed by Justice John Okoro, concluded hearings after considering arguments presented by all parties involved.

Dahiru’s legal representative, Akin Olujimi, urged the apex court to affirm the declaration made by the controversial Hudu Yunusa, an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner, citing his official status in line with Section 149 of the Electoral Act.

Previously, a three-member panel of the court had upheld the decision of the Adamawa Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on October 28, 2023, affirming Fintiri as the winner of the March 18 poll.

Referred to as Binani, Mr. Dahiru, the APC’s governorship candidate, pressed the court to nullify Fintiri’s victory due to INEC’s alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act of 2022.

In a unanimous decision, the appellate court panel, led by Tunde Awotoye, emphasized that Binani failed to substantiate allegations of non-compliance in the conduct of the March gubernatorial election in Adamawa State.

The court dismissed the claim of electoral fraud in 14,104 polling stations, stating, “There is no way three witnesses can prove allegations of non-compliance in 14,104 polling units. Besides, the witnesses were not at the polling units but were campaign coordinators for the appellants.”

Highlighting the incomplete record of proceedings transmitted from the tribunal, the justice concluded, “On the whole, this appeal lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed.

The decision of the lower Tribunal is hereby confirmed.” Additionally, the court imposed a fine of N1 million against the petitioners in favor of Fintiri and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).