S’Court sets Friday deadline for verdict on Gombe governorship election appeal
By Uzair Adam Imam
The Supreme Court is scheduled to deliver its judgement this Friday on an appeal seeking to nullify the election of Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mohammed Barde, are urging the court to overturn the decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Gombe State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which had dismissed their case challenging Governor Yahaya’s victory in the March 18, 2023, gubernatorial poll.
The five-member apex court panel, led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, approved the case for judgment after all parties presented their briefs of argument.
Additionally, the court dismissed an appeal against Governor Yahaya’s election by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Nafiu Bala, who withdrew the case upon realising it contained pre-election issues.
In a related matter, the court also deferred judgement on the Kaduna state governorship election dispute, where the PDP and its candidate, Mohammed Ashiru, seek the removal of Governor Uba Sani, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member.