The Court of Appeal in Abuja has rejected the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party ,SDP, Umar Ardo, challenging the victory of Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party ,PDP, as the Governor of Adamawa State.
Following the declaration of Fintiri as the winner of the March 18 governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC, Ardo contested the outcome, alleging that the election did not comply with the Electoral Act. He filed a petition at the Election Petitions Tribunal seeking to disqualify Fintiri.
However, the tribunal, led by Justice T. O. Uloho, dismissed Ardo’s petition for being incompetent and improperly filed. Dissatisfied with the tribunal’s decision, Ardo took the case to the Court of Appeal, seeking to be declared the winner of the election.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Ugochukwu Ogaku of the Appeal Court concurred with the tribunal’s ruling, stating that the appellants failed to substantiate their allegations of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act against INEC.
The court affirmed the decision of the tribunal, emphasizing that the appeal lacked merit.
“This appeal is bereft of merit. The decision of the Tribunal dismissing the Petition is hereby affirmed. The parties are to bear their costs,” the court declared.
With this ruling, the Court of Appeal has upheld the victory of Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri as the Governor of Adamawa State, dismissing the legal challenge presented by the SDP candidate.
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