Posted by The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate, Dr. Umar Ardo, had appealed Ahmadu Fintiri’s proclamation as governor of Adamawa State to the Supreme Court, but on Wednesday, the court rejected their case.
Due to lack of merit, the supreme court rejected the appeal with the case number SC/CV/1219/2023.
In the March 18, 2023 election, Fintiri and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) received more than 430,000 votes, but the SDP and its candidate, who received 6,000 votes, contested their declaration.
Both the SDP and Ardo were upset because they felt the election did not follow the Electoral Act 2022 to a large extent.
Nevertheless, during Wednesday’s sessions, Sylvester Imhanobe, who is the lawyer for the appellants, was called upon to provide evidence of the election’s conduct that did not adhere to the Electoral Act.
The appellants dropped their appeal after learning of the Supreme Court’s suggestion, since it had been deemed unmeritorious.
Without imposing any costs on the appellants, Justice John Inyang Okoro, who presided over a five-judge panel of Supreme Court justices, rejected the appeal.
The supreme court later upheld Fintiri’s election as legitimately declared governor of Adamawa State, stating that he had been validly elected.
The Adamawa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal received a petition from Ardo and his party following the declaration of victory for PDP candidate Fintiri.
Because of widespread corruption, threats, and violence, as well as serious violations of the Electoral Act, the petitioners sought to have Fintiri’s election declared null and void.
Nevertheless, the petition was rejected by the tribunal presided over by Theodora Uloho due to incompetence and improper filing.