A five-man panel of the Supreme Court on Monday, reserved judgment in the Kogi and Bayelsa States governorship elections appeals. The petitions were filed by Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Both governorship candidates are challenging the declarations made by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) on the outcome of the 2023 governorship elections in their respective states.
However, in a ruling on Monday, the Supreme Court said it reserved judgments in the appealed cases.
Recall that Ajaka had appealed the judgment of a three-member tribunal that affirmed the election of Ahmed Usman Ododo of APC as governor of Kogi.
However, after the Appeal Court judgment in June, Ajaka alleged that the judgment was influenced by some irregularities and manipulations.
The Appeal Court had upheld the Tribunal’s judgment which dismissed his petition for lacking in merit.
But Ajaka vowed he would appeal the decision of the Court of Appeal. He had stated that the journey to reclaiming his mandate was not limited to the decision of the appellate court.
His statement which was addressed to his supporters read, “We must remain relentless in our pursuit of justice. We cannot afford to be deterred by setbacks or disheartened by temporary defeats. Our cause is justice and our determination will not waver. We must stand united and continue to support our legal team as they navigate these complex legal waters on our behalf.
“I want to assure you, our political followers, that victory is within our grasp. We firmly believe that the truth will prevail, and justice will be served. We have full faith in the Nigerian judicial system. And we are confident that the apex court will rectify the injustices that have been inflicted upon us once again.”
On his part, Timipriye Sylva of the All Progressives Congress candidate in the Bayelsa State governorship election in May, expressed dissatisfaction with the result.
Sylva made the disclosure in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Julius Bokoru.
In Sylva’ case, the State Electoral Tribunal had in its judgment delivered May 17, 2024, in Abuja, upheld the result of the governorship election in the Bayelsa State. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared Senator Douye Diri and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Eruwjadkpo as lawfully elected governor and deputy respectively.
In his petition, the Tribunal upheld the declaration of INEC in announcing Diri and Eruwjadkpo as Governor and Deupty of Bayelsa State.
But not satisfied by the Tribunal’s judgment, Sylva to file for an appeal.
However, In July, the Court of Appeal Abuja dismissed the appeal to challenge the judgment of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
Justice James Abundaga who read the lead judgment of the Court of Appeal affirmed the declaration of Diri and the People’s Democratic Party PDP as the joint winners of the November 11, 2023 poll.
The appellate court also awarded a cost of N500,000 to be paid by APC and Sylva to the respondents in the appeal.
The court held that the appellants did not produce credible evidence that the election took place in 184 polling units of Nembe, Ogbia and Southern Ijaw.
It also held that going by the evidence and exhibit tendered that the election was not conducted in the disputed areas by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the issue of vote collation could not have risen.
With the on Monday, both parties would be anxiously awaiting the final pronouncement on the matter by the Supreme Court.
source: Channels TV
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