A 5-man panel of the Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party, seeking to overturn the electoral victory of Governor Abdullahi Sule in Nasarawa State. Governor Sule was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission with 347,209 votes, defeating Ombugadu, who polled 283,016 votes.

Displeased with the INEC results, Ombugadu and the PDP filed a petition at the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, challenging the election outcome. On October 2, 2023, the tribunal, in a split decision, declared Ombugadu as the validly elected governor of Nasarawa State.

However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja overturned the tribunal’s decision, affirming Abdullahi Sule’s election as Nasarawa State governor. The appeal court held that the tribunal was wrong in declaring Ombugadu the winner of the March 18 election.

Undeterred, Ombugadu appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking to challenge the appellate court’s decision. In a lead judgment, Justice Kudirat Kekere Ekun dismissed Ombugadu’s appeal as “devoid of merit, vexatious, and incompetent.” The panel unanimously held that all sister appeals abide by the instant judgment.

The Supreme Court’s decision affirms Governor Abdullahi Sule’s electoral victory, concluding the legal challenges to the Nasarawa State governorship election.

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, has dismissed an appeal by Jibrin Barde of the Peoples Democratic Party challenging the March 18, 2023, election of Governor Muhammad Yahaya of Gombe state. The lead judgment by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which upheld Governor Yahaya’s election in November 2023.

The apex court held that Barde’s appeal lacked merit and was incompetent, leading to its dismissal. This decision solidifies the appellate court’s earlier ruling, confirming Yahaya’s victory in the governorship election after dismissing two separate appeals challenging his declaration as the winner.

Governor Muhammad Yahaya’s electoral success remains affirmed, marking the conclusion of legal challenges to his victory in the Gombe state governorship election.

In a definitive ruling, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an appeal by Kenneth Gbagi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), challenging the election of Sheriff Oborevwori as governor of Delta state. The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Oborevwori, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, as the winner of the governorship election held on March 18, 2023.

Expressing dissatisfaction with Oborevwori’s victory, Gbagi and the SDP pursued legal action, initially approaching the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Asaba. However, on September 29, the tribunal upheld Oborevwori as the legitimate winner of the March 18 governorship election.

Unsatisfied with the tribunal’s decision, Gbagi then escalated the appeal to the Court of Appeal, which, on November 24, 2023, also affirmed Oborevwori’s election, dismissing Gbagi’s appeal.

Persisting in their legal efforts, Gbagi and the SDP took the case to the Supreme Court, seeking the setting aside of the judgments from the lower courts. Gbagi, in his plea, requested the court to declare that Oborevwori was ineligible to contest the election, among other reliefs.

A 5-man panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, unanimously dismissed the appeal, declaring it lacking in merit and incompetent. The lead judgment was delivered by Justice Lawal Garba, who emphasized the absence of merit in Gbagi’s appeal.

“The appeal lacks merit, and consequently, it is hereby dismissed. Appeal is hereby dismissed. Parties are to bear their respective costs,” Justice Garba stated, affirming Sheriff Oborevwori’s election as the governor of Delta state.

The Supreme Court, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, has affirmed the electoral victory of Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress in the March 18, 2023, governorship election in Ogun state. Justice Tijani Abubakar delivered the lead judgment, dismissing the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Ladi Adebutu.

Justice Abubakar stated that the appeal was “unmeritorious and deserved to be dismissed, and it is hereby dismissed accordingly.” The unanimous decision upheld the judgments of the lower courts, which had earlier dismissed Adebutu’s petition as grossly incompetent.

The PDP and Adebutu had sought the nullification of Abiodun’s victory, challenging the adherence to the Electoral Act, 2022, and citing corrupt practices and issues of non-qualification. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Abiodun the winner with 276,298 votes, defeating Adebutu, who polled 262,383 votes.

The Supreme Court’s decision solidifies the Court of Appeal’s judgment on November 23, which affirmed the Tribunal’s decision upholding Abiodun’s victory. While two judges of the Court of Appeal dismissed Adebutu’s appeal for lacking merit, Justice Jane Esienanwan Inyang saw merit in the petition. She ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return presented to Abiodun and conduct a new election in 99 polling units where elections were disrupted.

With the Supreme Court’s affirmation, Governor Dapo Abiodun’s electoral victory remains upheld, concluding the legal challenges against his re-election in Ogun state.