The Supreme Court, on Friday in Abuja, upheld the election of Governor Umar Sani as duly elected governor of Kaduna State.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun-led five-member panel of justices affirmed that the appellants failed to prove the allegations of corrupt practices and non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
The Informant247 reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mohammed Ashiru Isa, had challenged the election, where it was alleged that Uba was not duly elected by the majority of valid votes cast in the election, adding that some polling unit results were wrongfully cancelled aside from inconsistencies in accreditation records from INEC.
It would be recalled that the Appeal Court, sitting in Abuja on Friday, November 23, affirmed the election of Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State.
A three-person panel of justices unanimously held that the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mohammed Ashiru, failed for lack of merit, saying five issues were raised in the appeal in favour of the governor.
Ashiru had filed the appeal after the Kaduna State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal upheld the election of Sani of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with 730,002 votes ahead of Ashiru’s 719,196 votes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Senator Uba Sani, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the March 18 gubernatorial election held in Kaduna
Prof. Lawal Suleiman Bilbis, the State Collation Officer for the Gubernatorial Election, while declaring the results, said Sani polled a total of 730,002 votes to defeat his closest rival of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Mohammed Isa Ashiru, who scored a total of 719,196 votes.
According to him, “Senator Uba Sani, having scored the highest number of valid votes and met the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.”
Prof. Lawal Suleiman Bilbis explained that the number of registered voters is 4,335,208, accredited voters, 1,581,662, valid votes cast, 1,546,747 and invalid votes, 19,114, adding that a total of 1,565,861 votes were cast in the election.