…..Gov Bello reacts to S’court judgement affirming his reelection
…Calls for other parties to join him taking the state to the next level
The Supreme Court on Monday affirmed the election of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State .
A seven -man panel of the court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria , Justice Tanko Muhammad, made this declaration in two judgments dismissing the separate appeals filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and the Socialist Democratic Party.
The apex court affirmed the earlier July 4, 2020 judgments of the Court of Appeal in Abuja and verdicts of the election petition tribunal, which had both upheld Bello ’ s victory at the poll.
The Monday ’ s judgments affirm the validity of the November 16, 2019 governorship election in Kogi State .
Both PDP and SDP , along with their governorship candidates in the election , had alleged that the poll was marred by corrupt practices and non -compliance with the provision of the Nigerian Constitutuon , the Electoral Act and the Independent National Electoral Commission’ s Electoral Guidelines .
But the apex court dismissed the appeals on the grounds that the allegations , including the charges by SDP against Bello’ s running mate and now Kogi State Deputy Governor , Edward Onoja , that he falsified documents, submitted false information to INEC and not qualified to contest the November 2019 poll were not proved by the appellant.
The lead judgment on PDP’ s appeal was prepared by Justice Inyang Okoro but read on his behalf by another member of the panel, Justice Uwani Abba-Aji .
Justice Abba -Aji who was the only member of the panel present in court on Monday read the lead judgment prepared by her .
The apex court affirmed the earlier July 4, 2020 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja and the May 23, 2020 majority verdict of the election petition tribunal which had both upheld the Bello’ s victory at the poll.
The apex court resolved all the five issues raised for determination in the appeal against the PDP and its governorship candidate in the disputed poll , Musa Wada , who jointly filed the appeal .
Resolving all the five issues in favour of Bello, his party, the APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission , the apex court declared the appellants’ appeal as lacking in merit.
“ 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.
Justice Abba -Aji said of the appeal filed by SDP and its candidate, Natasha Akpoti, that the concurrent judgments of both the Court of Appeal and and the election petition tribunal remained “ unimpeachable” .
Aside from the CJN, Justices Okoro and Abba- Aji , other members of the panel who also agreed with the lead judgments are Justices Olabode Rhodes -Vivour, Sylvester Ngwuta, Kudirat Kekere- Ekun , and Amina Augie .
Meanwhile Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has said the judgments of the Supreme Court upholding his election for a second term in office as governor of Kogi State was an affirmation of the landmark victory entrusted to him by the people of Kogi State at the November 16, 2019 polls.
In a statement by Onogwu Muhammed, Chief Press Secretary, (CPS) to the governor, Bello said the Apex Court’s decision upholding his victory is an affirmation of the identical positions on the matters taken by the erudite jurists at the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.
Recall Governor Yahaya Bello polled a total of 406,222 votes against his closest rival, the PDP candidate who polled 189,704 votes with a winning margin of 216,518 votes in the November 16 gubernatorial poll held last year.
The Supreme Court which last Tuesday the 25th of August heard appeals filed by the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the respective judgments of the Court of Appeal which earlier upheld decisions of the Kogi State elections petitions tribunal dismissing their various petitions against the governor and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC)
The governor praised the panel of 5 Justices led by Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammadu, the Chief Justice of Nigeria which heard the appeals and Hon. Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji CFR who read this morning’s judgment alone. Appreciating the court for her uprightness and erudition, the Governor thanked the entire citizens of the state for casting their votes for him and joining him to defend same to the end. He assured them that his administration will continue to do more and more for them in line with his campaign slogan.
The Governor, Yahaya Bello used the moment to pay tribute to His Royal Majesty, Dr. Micheal Idakwo, Ameh Oboni II, the late Attah of Igala who passed on last week. He described the late traditional ruler as ‘a unifier’ who was a great supporter of his administration, a father and a wise counsellor.
The Governor. Yahaya Bello called on the other parties and their candidates to forgo all forms of bitterness and division and join hands with him to take Kogi to the next level.
