Umar Ardo, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for the 2023 governorship in Adamawa State, has decided to withdraw his appeal against Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s re-election at the Supreme Court.
Ardo had initially sought to invalidate Fintiri’s re-election due to significant non-compliance with the Electoral Act, as well as allegations of corrupt practices, threats, and violence during the election.
However, the court highlighted the distinction between the integrity of the election and the numerical strength of votes, with the SDP party receiving 6,000 votes.
Recognizing the court’s stance, Ardo and his party chose to withdraw the appeal. In November, the Court of Appeal in Abuja had already dismissed Ardo’s petition challenging Fintiri’s victory in the 2023 polls.
Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu delivered the finding, affirming a prior decision of the Tribunal led by Justice Theodora Uloho, which dismissed Ardo’s plea for being incompetent and improperly submitted.
The appeals court determined that the appellants did not show their accusations of corrupt practices and noncompliance with the Electoral Act against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Ogakwu stated that there were no grounds to allow the appeal.
The SDP candidate and his party filed a petition with the State Governorship Election Tribunal after Fintiri was proclaimed the victor of the race.
Ardo later challenged the tribunal’s decision, but the appellate court denied his plea.
The SDP candidate then petitioned the Supreme Court but eventually abandoned his case against the governor.
