Supreme Court Reserves Ruling In Kebbi State Governorship Appeal Filed By PDP
The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved judgment on an appeal filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state, seeking to nullify the election of Governor Nasir Idris of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun led five-member panel of the apex court announced, after lawyers to parties made their final submissions, that judgment was reserved and that parties to the appeal would be notified when it is ready for delivery.
The PDP candidate in the governorship election, Major General Aminu Bande, had in his appeal prayed the apex court to set aside the judgments of the Court of Appeal and the election tribunal, which affirmed Idris’ election.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had in its judgment upheld the election of Idris as the lawfully elected Governor of Kebbi State.
The court in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Ndukwe Anyannwu, dismissed the appeal brought before it by Bande for lacking in merit, and resolved all five issues formulated for determination in favour of the governor and against PDP.
Justice Anyanwu held that the allegations of forgery of testimonial brought against the Deputy Governor of the State Abubakar Umar Tafida were not established as required by law.
The judge also held that the issues of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act in the conduit of the election could not stand because the appellants failed to prove how the allegations substantially affected the election.
But not satisfied with the appellate court decision, the PDP candidate approached the Supreme Court to upturn the tribunal and the Appeal Court judgments.
