The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Umar Ardo, against the election victory of Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).
Governor Fintiri was declared the winner of the March 18, 2023 election, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but Ardo approached the Election Petitions Tribunal seeking the nullification of Fintiri’s victory on the grounds that there was non-compliance with the Electoral Act in the conduct of the poll.
However, the petition was dismissed by the Tribunal on grounds of being incompetent and not properly filed.
Dissatisfied with the decision of the Tribunal, the SDP candidate proceeded to the Appellate court, where the Justice Ugochukwu Ogaku-led panel agreed with the judgment of the Tribunal.
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The Appeal court held that the appellants did not prove the allegations of corrupt practices and non-compliance to the Electoral Act, against INEC.
Justice Ogaku in the judgment said there was no basis to grant the appeal and therefore dismissed it.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
