The victory of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 16, 2019 governorship election in the state has been affirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Bello, shortly after the ruling, was seen in a viral video expressing gratitude to God for granting him victory at the Supreme Court.
A seven-man panel led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, in a unanimous judgment, affirmed Bello’s election and dismissed the appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Musa Wada, challenging the governor’s victory.
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In the lead judgment prepared by Justice Inyang Okoro but read on his behalf by another member of the panel, Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, the apex court affirmed the earlier July 4 judgement of the Court of Appeal in Abuja and the May 23 majority verdict of the election petition tribunal, which had both upheld Bello’s victory at the poll.
The apex court resolved all the five issues raised for determination in the appeal against PDP and its governorship candidate in the disputed poll that jointly filed the appeal.
The court resolved all the five issues in favour of Bello, APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and declared the appellants’ appeal as lacking in merit.
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“Having resolved all the five issues against the appellants, it is abundantly clear that the appeal is devoid of any scintilla of merit and it is accordingly dismissed,” the court ruled.
Other members of the panel are: Justices Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, Sylvester Ngwuta, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and Amina Augie.
Idowu Sowunmi
