The court of appeal in Abuja on Sunday sacked Mutfwang Manasseh of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as governor of Plateau state.
A three-member panel of the court led by Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, held that Manasseh was not validly sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the election.
The court also ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Manasseh and issue a fresh certificate of return to the APC candidate, Nentawe Goshwe.
INEC had on March 20, declared Mutfwang the winner of the March 18 governorship election. According to INEC, Mutfwang scored 525,299 votes, while Nentawe Goshwe polled 481,370 votes.
Other state governors sacked by court are
- Kano state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf (NNPP)
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday sacked Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as the governor of Kano State and declared Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the 18 March governorship election
NNPP’s Yusuf was declared winner of the poll by INEC with 1,019,602 votes defeating the APC, whose candidate, Nasir Gawuna, received 890,705 votes, according to INEC.
A three-man panel of the appellate court led by Moore Adumein, in a unanimous decision on Friday upheld the decision of the lower election petition tribunal on September 20 which nullified the governor’s election.
The Court of Appeal anchored its decision on disqualification of Mr Yusuf as a candidate in the election saying he was not a member of the NNPP as of the time of the election.
“Yusuf Abba was not a member of the NNPP as of the time he was purportedly sponsored on 18 March for the Kano Governorship election,” the judge ruled.
“The tribunal was wrong not have disqualified the appellant, Governor Yusuf. The failure of NNPP to properly sponsor Mr Yusuf according to Section 177 (c) of the constitution, is fatal to their case.
“All the nine issues are hereby resolved against the appellant, the judge held. This appeal is hereby dismissed. The sum of N1 million is awarded as cost against Governor Yusuf,” Mr Adumein declared.
- Nasarawa state governor, Abdullahi Sule (APC)
Sule was sacked by the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petitions in October. The tribunal ordered INEC to revoke his Certificate of Return and give it to David Ombugadu of the PDP.
INEC had declared Sule the winner of the election with 347,209 votes. Ombugadu came second with 283,106 votes.
In its decision, the tribunal, led by Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, declared that Mr Ombugadu provided the results of the various polling units and forms EC 8A and proved to the tribunal that the results were manipulated in favour of the APC.
On Wednesday, November 15, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja reserved judgment on the appeal.
- Zamfara state governor, Dauda Lawal (PDP)
On Thursday, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja declared the election that produced Lawal as the governor inconclusive and ordered INEC to hold new elections in three local governments – Maradun, Birnin-Magaji and Bukkuyum
INEC had declared Dauda Lawal of the PDP as the winner of the Zamfara State governorship election with377,76 votes defeating the incumbent governor, Bello Matawalle of the APC who polled 311,976 votes.
Matawalle had filed a case with the tribunal contesting the results of the governorship election on March 18, but it was dismissed due to lack of merit
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
