Supreme Court Verdict: Uba Sani’s Election as Kaduna Governor Upheld

The Supreme Court has solidified Uba Sani’s position as the legitimate governor of Kaduna, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A unanimous ruling from a five-member panel of the apex court unequivocally dismissed the appeal presented by Mohammed Ashiru of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), deeming it devoid of merit. Tijjani Abubakar, delivering the lead judgment, stated that the appellant “has nothing useful to ask this court” and characterized the appeal as “frivolous and vexatious,” leading to its outright dismissal.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) initially declared Sani the winner of the gubernatorial poll after he secured 730,001 votes, triumphing over Ashiru, who garnered 719,196 votes in the March 18 election.

Unsatisfied with the results, the PDP and Ashiru sought recourse at the tribunal. However, in September 2023, two out of the three judges on the tribunal panel dismissed the petition on technical grounds. Victor Oviawie, leading the panel, considered the petition abandoned, citing the PDP and its candidate’s failure to file their pre-hearing application within the legally prescribed timeframe.

This recent Supreme Court ruling marks the culmination of legal battles and reinforces Uba Sani’s election victory, following earlier affirmations by both the tribunal and the court of appeal in September and November 2023, respectively.