The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, affirmed the election of Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna and Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom.
The apex court also upheld the election of Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina as well as governors of Ogun and Ebonyi states, Dapo Abiodun and Dave Umahi.
In a unanimous judgement, the Supreme Court held that the governors were lawfully and validly elected.
In affirming Masari’s election, the apex court agreed with the submissions of Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) that the first respondent, Bello Masari, was qualified for the March 9 governorship election.
The court also agreed with Fagbemi that the appellant did not challenge the basic qualification of the governor other than mere allegations of submitting false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission to clear him for the election.
Justice Mary Peter-Odili, who delivered the lead judgement, held that the
appeal by Senator Yakubu Lado lacked
merit.
She accordingly upheld the judgement of the tribunal and Appeal Court which upheld the election of Masari as governor of Katsina.
The appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party Governorship Candidate (PDP) in
Nasarawa State, Mr David Ombugadu, against the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule of the APC was also dismissed for lacking merit.
The apex court, in its unanimous judgement, also held that the appeal filed by Isa Hashiru of the PDP in the March 9 governorship election challenging the victory of Mr Nasir El-Rufai of the APC lacked merit.
The court upheld El- Rufai’s election.
