The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Umar Ardo, pertaining to the 2023 Adamawa State governorship election. Umar Ardo’s counsel had sought the withdrawal of the case against Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, a request that was dismissed by the five-member panel led by John Okoro. Prior to this, both the Court of Appeal in Abuja and the tribunal had already dismissed Ardo’s petition challenging Governor Fintiri’s victory.
In a related development, the Supreme Court has also deferred its judgment in the appeal against the election of Governor Alex Otti in Abia State. Appeals from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were pending, and the five-man panel, headed by John Okoro, adjourned the case for judgments after hearing arguments from all parties involved.
Previously, the Court of Appeal in Lagos had dismissed petitions by the PDP and APC, challenging the election of Governor Otti, who ran on the Labour Party ticket, as the Governor of Abia State. Both the APC and PDP have now brought their appeals to the apex court, seeking to invalidate Otti’s election.
