A significant moment unfolds at the Supreme Court in Abuja, Nigeria, as governors from Plateau, Bauchi, Kano, and Zamfara states eagerly anticipate the verdicts in the governorship election disputes involving eight sitting governors elected in March and sworn in on May 29, 2023.
Governors Abba Yusuf (Kano), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) are present in the courtroom alongside their legal representatives, awaiting the arrival of the Supreme Court justices. Pleasantries are exchanged as everyone, including former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong and Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, fills the courtroom, except for Nasarawa State.
The states involved in the impending judgments include Lagos, Kano, Plateau, Bauchi, Cross River, Abia, Zamfara, Cross River, and Ebonyi. The panel of justices, led by Justice John Okoro, has been increased to eight members.
The Supreme Court commences with the Lagos State judgment, where Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party appealed against Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The apex court dismisses the appeal, affirming the Court of Appeal’s decision that deemed the appeal lacking in merit. Justices Inyang Okoro, Emmanuel Agim, Uwani Abba-Aji, and Adamu Jauro join Justice Garba Lawal in a unanimous decision, labeling the petition a gross abuse of the court process.
Moving to the case of the People’s Democratic Party’s governorship candidate, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, against Sanwo-Olu, the Supreme Court again dismisses the PDP’s case, confirming Sanwo-Olu’s election as the governor of Lagos State.
The attention then shifts to Bauchi State, with Justice Ibrahim Saulawa reading the judgment on the governorship dispute between Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party and Sadique Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress. The Court of Appeal had previously affirmed Governor Mohammed’s victory in the March 18 governorship election, with no costs awarded to either party.
As the Supreme Court deliberates on these crucial cases, the outcomes will determine the fate of the respective governors and shape the political landscape in the affected states.
