Governorship Election Tribunals Deliver 19 Verdicts Upholding Election Victories

So far, the governorship election petitions’ tribunals have delivered 19 verdicts across the country upholding the victories of the governors in those states.

Following the declaration of the winners of the March 9th 2019 gubernatorial elections in Nigeria by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), some defeated candidates approached the tribunal to challenge the results.

The governorship elections held in 29 of the 36 states of the federation. States where the election did not hold include Kogi, Osun, Edo, Ekiti, Bayelsa, Ondo and Anambra.

A breakdown of the results from the 29 states showed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won in 15 states while the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged victorious in 14 states.

Over the past few months, the gubernatorial petition tribunals in these states have held several sittings deliberating on the petitions.

So far, the tribunals have passed verdict in no fewer than 19 states, while judgments are yet to be issued in four states.

THE WHISTLER in this report, presents the states where the tribunals have declared the authentic winners of the March, 9, 2019 governorship election.

Delta State

The Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, the state capital, on 20th September, upheld the election of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of the PDP.

Candidate of the APC, Great Ogboru, had filed a petition challenging the victory of Okowa at the poll, claiming the election was marred with several irregularities.

The APC has announced plans to file an appeal to challenge the judgment. The party said it was “exploring every available legal option(s)/an appeal of the said judgement to the Appellate Court. The Party is of the firm belief that Deltans shall have course to smile again,” a statement by State Publicity Secretary, Ogheneluemu Sylvester Imonina read.

Abia State

The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on Friday dismissed the petition filed by Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, against Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP.

Otti, who challenged the re-election of Ikpeazu, in the March 9, governorship poll in the state, alleged massive irregularities in 15 of 17 Local Government Areas in the state. His petition was dismissed for lacking in merit.

But Otti, in a statement by his media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma, said his legal team would challenge the judgment at the Appeal Court.

Adamawa State

The Adamawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal upheld the election of Ahmadu Fintiri of the PDP.

The Action People’s Party and its governorship candidate, Bitrus Meda, had dragged the INEC, Fintiri and the PDP to the tribunal, challenging the outcome of the results on the ground of unlawful exclusion.

Counsel to the petitioners, Solomon Garba, while reacting on the ruling says they had accepted the judgment in good faith.

Akwa Ibom

The APC in Akwa Ibom state was defeated at the tribunal as governor Udom Emmanuel was affirmed to have been duly elected.

A three-member tribunal in Uyo upheld the victory of Emmanuel of the PDP, ruling that the petition filed by the APC governorship candidate, Nsima Ekere, lacked merit.

Ekere said he will approach the appellate court following the judgement.

A signed press statement his media team read in part, “We however, reiterate our faith in the Judiciary as the last hope of the just and call on all our members and supporters at all levels to keep the faith and remain optimistic.”

Cross River State

The governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Cross River State on Thursday affirmed the victory of Governor Ben Ayade the governorship candidate of the PDP.

The Chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Josiah Majebi dismissed all the pleas of the candidate of the APC Senator John Owan-Enoh, saying the petition number EPT/CAL/GOV/01/2019 was a pre-election matter and the tribunal lacked jurisdiction to entertain it.

Owan-Enoh expressly indicated that he will proceed to the appeal court to seek further redress.

Ebonyi State

The Ebonyi State Governorship election petition tribunal on March 15th struck out the petition filed by the APC governorship candidate, Senator Sunny Ogbuoji against the election of Governor David Umahi of the PDP. Umahi was declared winner of the election.

Ogbuoji has said he would challenge the judgment at the Appeal Court.

Enugu State

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu, on April 11, struck out the petition filed by Action Peoples Party (APP) challenging the victory of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

The tribunal, chaired by Justice I. M. Sambo, struck out the petition after entertaining a motion on notice for the withdrawal of the petition.

Katsina State

The Katsina State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunals affirmed the elections of Governor Aminu Masari of the APC.

Justice Dele Omotosho, in his judgment held that the petitioner failed to prove the allegation of substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act in the conduct of the election.

The PDP candidate, Yakubu Lado Danmarke, through his lawyer, has indicated interest to challenge the outcome of the tribunal at the appeal court.

Imo State

The Imo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal dismissed three petitions challenging Governor Emeka Ihedioha’s victory at the polls.

The three petitions were filed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance and its candidate, Ifeanyi Ararume, Action Alliance Party, and its candidate Mr Uche Nwosu, as well as the APC and its candidate, Hope Uzodinma.

The three-man tribunal led by Justice Malami Dogondaji, unanimously held that the petitions lacked merit.

The AA said the party and its candidate, Nwosu, will go to the Court of Appeal to reject the judgment delivered.

Kaduna state

The Kaduna State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on September 9th upheld the election of Governor Nasir El-Rufai as the winner of the March 9 governorship election in the state.

The Chairman of the three-man panel Justice Ibrahim Bako in his ruling dismissed Isah Ashiru, the candidate of the PDP’s suit challenging the election of governor El-Rufai for lacking in merit.

The PDP Chairman in Kaduna State, Hassan Hyat indicated that his party would appeal the Tribunal ruling affirming el-Rufai’s election.

Kebbi State

APC Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State defeated the PDP, at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Birnin-Kebbi.

PDP and its candidate, Isa Galaudu, had challenged the victory of Bagudu, in the 2019 governorship Election.

But the tribunal chairman, Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu, leading other two Justices, affirmed that the petition of the PDP lacked all necessary evidence that can portray the election as full of irregularities and election malpractices as claimed by the PDP and its candidate.

Justice Amina Aliyu submitted that the case is therefore struck out for lacking merit.

Counsel to the petitioner, Ibrahim Mohammed, however objected to the decision of the tribunal, stressing that an appeal would be filled at the Court of Appeal in Sokoto.

Nasarawa State

The Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Lafia dismissed the petition filed by the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, David Ombugadu, challenging the declaration of Abdullahi Sule of the APC as the winner of polls.

In a unanimous judgment that lasted for nine hours on September 22nd, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Abba Mohammed, said Ombugadu’s petition lacked merit.

Reacting to the judgement, counsel to the petitioners, Gambo Afiku said the next line of action for his clients would be based on further consultations.

Oyo State

The Oyo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal dismissed the application filed by Bayo Adelabu, governorship candidate of the APC.

Adelabu had said that the election was fraught with irregularities, over-voting and lack of proper accreditation.

But the tribunal declared Governor Seyi Makinde as the duly elected governor of the state.

Counsel to the petitioners,Akin Oladeji, said they would decide on next line of action after studying the judgment.

Rivers State

The election petition tribunal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers, declared Nyesom Wike of PDP as the validly elected governor of the state.

The tribunal ruled against the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), Clifford Edanuko.

The ruling came after the party applied to withdraw the case.

Ogun State

The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta on Saturday upheld the electoral victory of the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.

The tribunal declared that the petition of the main opposition, Allied People’s Movement (APM) and its candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, challenging the victory of All Progressives Congress (APC) lacked merit.

Akinlade, has however, expressed hope that the appeal court will grant him the victory he desires.

Taraba State

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Taraba State dismissed the petition by Abubakar Danladi of the APC challenging the re-election of Governor Darius Ishaku of the PDP in the governorship election.

In his ruling, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice M.O. Adewarahe said the petition was dismissed because of the July 5 Supreme Court judgement which upheld the Appeal Court judgment that disqualified Danladi on the grounds of false declaration of age.

Ogun State

The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta upheld the electoral victory of the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.

The tribunal declared that the petition of the main opposition, Allied People’s Movement (APM) and its candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, challenging the victory of All Progressives Congress (APC) lacked merit.

The APM has said it will appeal the tribunal’s judgement.

Kwara State

The tribunal sitting in Ilorin upheld Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s victory at the March 9 governorship election and dismissed the PDP candidate Razak Atunwa’s petition.

Atunwa and the PDP alleged that Abdulrazaq did not possess the West African Examinations Council certificate and that he forged the one attached to the documents he submitted to the INEC.

But, a three-member tribunal panel headed by Justice Basset Effiong said WAEC confirmed to the tribunal that Abdulrazaq’s certificate was “genuine and authentic,” adding that a former classmate of the governor told the panel that Abdulrazaq sat in his front during the June 1976 exams at the Government College, Kaduna.

Niger State

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Minna upheld the election of Governor Abubakar Bello.

The PDP candidate, Mohammed Nasko, and his party had dragged Bello of APC and his deputy before the tribunal.

Counsel to the petitioners said their case was knocked out on technical grounds.

Ndayako, who was the running mate to Nasko, said the petitioners will carefully study the judgment before deciding the next line of action.

While some governorship candidates did not challenge the election results, Nigerians still await rulings from tribunals in four more states to include Kano, Bauchi, Sokoto and Plateau.