The Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed an appeal aimed at challenging the legitimacy of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s victory in the March 18 governorship election in Adamawa State.
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The appeal, marked CA/YL/EPT/AD/GOV/17/2023, was filed by Umar Ardo, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who contested the earlier decision of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. The tribunal had deemed Ardo’s petition as incompetent, leading to the subsequent appeal.
A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, Yola division, sitting in Abuja, affirmed the tribunal’s judgment in a session held on Tuesday, November 21.
The court upheld the decision that Ardo and the SDP failed to substantiate allegations of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Ugochkwu Ogakwu, delivering the lead judgment, stated that the appeal lacked merit, thereby solidifying the initial ruling of the tribunal.
Justice Ogakwu said: “This appeal is bereft of merit. The decision of the trial tribunal, dismissing the appellants’ petition, is hereby affirmed.”
