The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Isah Ashiru, contesting Governor Uba Sani’s victory in Kaduna State.
The Supreme Court also affirmed the lower courts’ decisions, including the tribunal and the court of appeals, which confirmed Uba’s victory in the March 2023 gubernatorial election.
The decision is unanimous, and no costs are given.
About two months ago, the appellate court upheld Uba’s victory in the gubernatorial race, dismissing Ashiru’s claim. The appellate court’s three-man bench ruled that the tribunal erred when it ordered extra polls in 22 voting units of four local government areas (LGAs), where the exercise was judged inconclusive.
It claimed that a crucial witness brought by the PDP during the tribunal hearing just provided hearsay evidence, despite the fact that he was not there when the alleged malpractices occurred.
As a result, the court ruled that the witness’ charges of vote deduction, ballot box stuffing, and mutilation of key election materials were hearsay.
It also agreed with the tribunal’s dismissal of the PDP and Isa Ashiru because the petitioners had abandoned their petition due to their failure to apply for the issuance of a pre-hearing information sheet after the close of pleadings, as required by paragraph 18(1) of the first schedule to the Electoral Act 2022.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) proclaimed Sani the winner of the exercise. The APC flagbearer received 730,002 votes, defeating his nearest challenger, Ashiru, who received 719,196 votes.
The Labour Party‘s (LP) Jonathan Asake finished third with 58,283 votes, while the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)’s Suleiman Hunkuyi received 21,405 votes.
