The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed the election of Governor Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the rightful governor of Bauchi State.
The apex court dismissed the appeal by Sadique Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress (APC), ruling that it lacked merit.
This final verdict solidifies Governor Mohammed’s position and brings an end to a protracted legal battle over the outcome of the state’s gubernatorial election held on March 18, 2023.
Background
The legal saga dates back to the initial challenge filed by the APC and its candidate, Sadique Abubakar, who contested the election results, alleging irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
Despite their claims, both the Bauchi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and the Court of Appeal in Jos upheld Governor Bala Mohammed’s victory, dismissing Abubakar’s case.
Unsatisfied, the APC candidate took the matter to the Supreme Court, asserting that his case had not been adequately evaluated by the lower courts.
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Court’s decision
In delivering the lead judgment, Justice Ibrahim Saulawa reiterated the apex court’s unanimous decision to dismiss the appeal on Friday.
The five-member panel, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, found no reason to overturn the decisions of the lower courts.
The court resolved all issues raised by the appellants against them, upholding the integrity of the electoral process and confirming Governor Bala Mohammed’s legitimacy as the elected governor of Bauchi State.
Recalling previous affirmations by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on November 17th, this final ruling conclusively settles the legal disputes surrounding Governor Bala’s victory, providing a clear path for the administration to focus on governance without the shadow of legal uncertainty.