The Supreme Court has affirmed Ahmadu Fintiri as the duly elected governor of Adamawa State in the March 2023 governorship election.
The apex court dismissed the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani against the re-election of Fintiri for lack of merit.
Justice John Okoro who led the five-member panel, read the lead judgement on Wednesday and held that the act of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Ari, was an act of irresponsibility and criminality, adding that it is the returning officer who must announce results, as this is to avoid chaos and anarchy.
WikkiTimes reports that the Supreme Court on Monday through a five-man panel of the apex court led by Justice John Okoro reserved judgment after taking arguments from all the parties involved.
Breaking: Court Reinstates Binani As APC Governorship Candidate in Adamawa
Dahiru, widely known as Binani, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate at the poll, had urged the court to sack Mr Fintiri who was the flagbearer of the PDP on account of INEC’s non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
In the unanimous judgement, the three-member appellate court panel led by Tunde Awotoye, said Binani failed to prove allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act in the conduct of the March governorship election in Adamawa State.
It held that the appellant’s claim of electoral fraud in 14,104 polling stations was not substantiated.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had earlier affirmed the election of Fintiri.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that a three-member court panel had upheld the October 28, 2023 decision of the Adamawa Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, declaring Fintiri the winner of the March 18 poll.