Judgment on the appeal challenging the election of Governor Kefas Agbu of Taraba State has been reserved by the Supreme Court. A five-member panel of justices, led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, made this decision on Wednesday after hearing arguments from the involved parties,Daily Trust report.
The governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Prof Yahaya Sani, is disputing Agbu’s victory in the Taraba State governorship election held on March 18, 2023.
Governor Agbu’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), urged the apex court to either strike out or outrightly dismiss the case, citing its lack of merit and significant flaws in its preparation. He argued that the appellants’ appeal was seriously incompetent.
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The counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) supported the arguments put forth by Governor Agbu’s lawyer in resolving the dispute surrounding the governorship election.
However, Olusegun Jolaowo (SAN), the lead counsel for the NNPP and Sani, implored the justices to consider his clients’ case and grant the requested reliefs.
In previous proceedings, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld the election of PDP and Kefas Agbu as Governor of Taraba State. The three-member panel of the appellate court, in two separate appeals, affirmed Agbu’s lawful victory in the March 18 governorship election in Taraba State. The court ruled that the appellants failed to prove allegations of non-compliance, irregularities, and other malpractices in accordance with the provisions of the law. Justice Peter Affen, delivering a unanimous judgment, criticized the appellants for presenting documents to the court without supporting them with oral evidence, emphasizing the need for such evidence to substantiate claims of malpractices or irregularities.
