There was huge jubilation on the Supreme Courtroom on Friday after the apex courtroom upheld the victories of the Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo State governors on the November 2023 gubernatorial polls.
The apex courtroom started the listening to with the Bayelsa State Attraction throughout which its five-member panel in a unanimous choice affirmed Gov Duoye Diri’s victory, a lot to the admiration of his Peoples Democratic Occasion supporters.
The panel headed by Justice Lawal Garba dismissed the enchantment filed by the All Progressive Congress candidate, Timipre Sylva, and affirmed the Courtroom of Attraction’s choice delivered on July 15, which had additionally nullified the enchantment for missing in benefit and an abuse of Courtroom course of.
Citing a piece of the 1999 Structure, the Apex Courtroom panel held that the APC Governorship candidate has just one proper to enchantment the judgment of the Tribunal and never a number of. The Courtroom due to this fact faulted Sylva for submitting two notices of enchantment to the Appellate Courtroom.
Justice Garba stated “The appellant did not proof any of the grounds of the petition. In dedication of the problems raised the decrease courtroom relied on the judgment of this courtroom and stated it was an abuse of courtroom course of to file two processes on one difficulty.
“I’m of the view that the courtroom of Attraction was proper that after submitting a discover of enchantment, the appellant had exhausted the proper offered. I due to this fact resolve in favour of the respondent in opposition to the appellant. The enchantment is an abuse of courtroom course of”.
The Supreme Courtroom additionally dismissed the enchantment by the Nationwide Rescue Motion and its candidate Micah Akeems, within the final governorship election in Bayelsa State.
The apex courtroom held that the enchantment was with out benefit as a result of the case was based mostly on a pre-election difficulty of alleged provide of false info.
However shortly after getting the apex courtroom verdict, the governor’s supporters clad in Niger Delta apparel beamed with the grins and jubilated extensively out of the courtroom premises.
An analogous situation performed out when the apex courtroom upheld Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma’s victory on the final election as his supporters with their crimson caps made joyful noise within the courtroom premises.
A five-member panel of the apex courtroom in a unanimous choice dismissed the enchantment introduced earlier than the courtroom by the PDP and its candidate, Samuel Anyawu.
Within the lead judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Baba Idris, the courtroom resolved all the problems raised for dedication within the enchantment in opposition to the appellants.
The courtroom held that the enchantment was with out benefit and dismissed it.
The Supreme Courtroom additionally dismissed the enchantment by the Labour Occasion and its candidate, Athan Achonu for being unmeritorious.
The apex Courtroom resolved the three points recognized for dedication in opposition to the appellants.
Justice Idris dominated that the appellants who have been the petitioners on the election tribunal, did not show their case as required.
However supporters of the Kogi State governor, Ahmed Ododo, displayed the heaviest jubilation after the apex courtroom upheld his victory.
They spent 30mins screaming on high of their voices out of pleasure and hugging themselves.
They received carried away with their pleasure and attacked the Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Occasion, Muritala Ajaka, as he was leaving the courtroom room. The Ododo’s supporters attacked Ajaka, throwing objects and water at him with mockery.
The Supreme Courtroom had dismissed Ajaka’s enchantment, affirming Ododo’s victory within the Kogi gubernatorial off-cycle election.
A five-member panel of the apex courtroom, in a unanimous choice, refused to void the Kogi State election as requested by the SDP candidate.
Within the lead judgment, Justice Sadiq Umar of the courtroom resolved all of the three points recognized for dedication within the enchantment in opposition to the appellants.
The Supreme Courtroom held that Ajaka’s enchantment marked: SC/CV/654/2024 was with out benefit and proceeded to dismiss it.
Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has described Friday’s judgment of the Supreme Courtroom, which affirmed his victory within the November 11, 2023 governorship election, because the triumph of reality over falsehood and evil.
Talking in Abuja after the apex courtroom gave its verdict, Governor Diri stated the victory was not for him or his deputy alone but in addition for folks of the state whose alternative was validated by the courts.
A press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying that his victories on the courts have renewed his hope within the judiciary and in democracy.
He stated regardless of the extent of hardship within the nation, the forthrightness of the judiciary has given him assurance that there’s gentle on the finish of the tunnel, and known as on Nigerians to be longing for a greater nation.
Talking on what folks of the state ought to count on in his second time period, Governor Diri stated his administration had began nicely and that it’ll consolidate on the beneficial properties to date made and even introduce new programmes and insurance policies that can profit the folks.
The Commissioner for Info, Orientation and Technique, Ebiowou Koku-Obiyai, described the victory as a factor of pleasure saying they’ve been vindicated.
“It’s a factor of pleasure for us. We’re pleased as a state. Ultimately, we now have been vindicated. We voted massively for the governor,” she said.
She stated the judgment has put to relaxation all of the challenges and that Bayelsans ought to count on progress by way of infrastructural improvement and insurance policies.
Doubara Atasi, Senior Particular Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, stated they’re pleased thanking God for the victory.
Atasi stated on listening to information of the judgment, the deputy governor and numerous celebration devoted and supporters who had gathered to him began a reward session on the chapel in his workplace in Authorities Home.
He echoed the governor and his deputy saying the judgment is a victory to God and a victory for democracy.
“Sure, we’re pleased. There may be jubilation. As our bosses have already stated, its victory to God and victory for democracy.”
- Extra studies by Samuel Ese and Chigozie Uzosike