In a decisive legal showdown, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has delivered a resounding dismissal of the appeal challenging the victory of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of the People’s Democratic Party ,PDP, in Bauchi State.
The three-member panel of justices, in a unanimous decision on Friday, declared that the appeal by AVM Sadique Abubakar of the All Progressive Congress ,APC, lacked merit.
Justice Chidiebere Nwaoma Uwa, delivering the lead judgment, emphasized that Abubakar and the APC failed to substantiate their allegations of malpractices and non-compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act against Governor Mohammed and the PDP. The court, in its thorough assessment, found no compelling evidence to support the claims put forth by the appellants.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC, had initially declared Governor Mohammed of the PDP as the rightful winner of the election. In response to this declaration, Abubakar, representing the APC, took the matter to the governorship election petitions tribunal, seeking to challenge the victory.
However, the tribunal, led by Chairman P. T. Kwahar, had previously upheld Governor Mohammed’s victory in its judgment, asserting the validity of the electoral process that led to his triumph.
Dissatisfied with the tribunal’s decision, Abubakar promptly filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, continuing the legal battle to contest the lower court’s ruling.
The Court of Appeal’s dismissal, grounded in the lack of merit in the appellant’s case, reaffirms Governor Mohammed’s victory in the 2022 Bauchi State governorship election.
This legal resolution brings a decisive conclusion to the electoral dispute, underscoring the importance of adherence to due process and the rule of law in upholding the integrity of the democratic process.
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