The appeals filed at the Supreme Court by aggrieved governorship candidates in different States challenging the outcome of the March 18, 2023 elections is gradually coming to a fold.
On Thursday, the the Apex Court again dismissed 3 separate appeals challenging the outcome of the elections in Akwa Ibom state.
The Supreme Court affirmed Umo Eno as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State in South South region of Nigeria, dismissing the appeals filed by the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Young Progressive Party (YPP), and Action Alliance (AA).
The separate appeals were hinged on alleged certificate forgery by Governor Eno who contested on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Lead counsel to the respective parties withdrew their separate appeals following the hints from the Court’s panel of Justices that they have no merit.
Counsel in the matters had made attempts to convince the Supreme Court that Emo Eno Bassey and Bassey Eno Emo were not the same and as such that the governor allegedly forged his Secondary School Certificate.
The Apex Court Justices however queried the lawyers on whether the West African Examinations Council WAEC gave evidence to establish the criminal allegations.
Upon admission that WAEC did not testify in the matter, the lawyers opted and separately withdrew the appeals.
This prompted the panel to dismiss them following a ‘no objection’ from the respondent lawyers.
The Court of Appeal in Lagos had in November last year affirmed the election of Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State in the governorship election held on March 18, 2023.
In other developments, the Supreme Court also reserved judgment in the Ogun State Governorship appeal challenging Dapo Abiodun’s re-election on the ground that the Electoral Act, 2022 was not adhered to, citing alleged corrupt practices and issue of non-qualification.
Oladipupo Adebutu is asking the court to set aside the election because INEC had initially cancelled elections in 99 polling units and consequently ordered that fresh elections should be conducted in those polling units.
In same vein, the apex court has reserved judgment on the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is largely challenging the membership of the Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu as the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate for the March 18, 2023 election.
The appellants hinged their arguments on grounds that that the Governor did not vacate his seat as a lawmaker before running for office of governor in the 2023 general elections.
The Court of Appeal, Calabar Judicial Division, had dismissed the appeal filed by the PDP governorship candidate, Senator Sandy Onor against Governor Otu.
Also, the Supreme Court is expected to deliver judgement in about 7 appeals on Friday, the 12th of January, 2024.
The States are; Lagos, Kano, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi, Bauchi, and Cross River.
Editor: Ken Eseni