JUST IN: Supreme Court reserves judgment in appeal seeking to sack Kaduna governor’s sack

The Supreme Court has kept the nation on edge as it reserves judgment in the appeal seeking to overturn the election of Governor Uba Sani in Kaduna State. A five-member panel of Justices, headed by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, made this decision after parties adopted all their briefs during the appeal hearing. The court will communicate the judgment date to concerned parties.

Last November, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate, Mohammed Ashiru Isa. The appeal challenged Governor Uba Sani’s victory in the March 18 governorship election.

During the recent appeal hearing, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) urged the Supreme Court to disregard the PDP’s appeal. INEC and APC argued that the petition by PDP and Isa was incompetent, citing breaches of the Electoral Act 2022 provisions. They highlighted discrepancies in the filing process, pointing to violations of Paragraph 18(1) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2022.

In response, INEC and APC requested the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal, emphasizing that the petitioners failed to adhere to due process and procedural requirements. Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), representing Governor Uba Sani, urged the Apex court to dismiss the appeal for lack of merit and substance. The outcome remains eagerly anticipated as the legal battle over Kaduna’s gubernatorial election intensifies.