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Supreme Court upholds Tambuwal’s election

Per Second NewsJanuary 20, 2020309

Putting paid to apprehensions and speculations of a possible sack, Nigeria’s Supreme Court on Monday morning affirmed Aminu Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party as the valid winner of the March 9 governorship poll in Sokoto State.

It dismissed an appeal the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Ahmed Sokoto, challenging Tambuwal’s re-election.

A seven-man panel of justices of the court headed by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, held that the appellant failed to adduce any credible evidence to prove his petition against the outcome of the governorship election.

Justice Musa Abba-Ajji who delivered the lead judgement, noted that whereas the appellant produced 12 witnesses before the tribunal, 11 of made their statements in the Hausa language while the English version was tendered in evidence.

The Apex court held that the appellant failed to tender the original version of the statements he tendered in evidence and also failed to produce the translator to confirm the authenticity or otherwise of the 11 statements.

Besides, the court held that the appellant was unable to prove that the election was invalid by virtue of non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

It also held that he failed to discharge the onus placed on him by the law, and accordingly dismissed the appeal marked SC/1466/19.

PersecondNews reports that Imo Gov. Emeka Ihedioha of PDP was last week sacked by the Apex court, a judgment which had attracted wide condemnation and criticisms.

In a reaction, he said his faith remained strong in Nigeria, its democracy and institutions, in spite of the Supreme Court judgment that removed him as governor of the state.

Ihedioha stated this on Saturday when he received members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) led by its National Chairman, Mr Uche Secondus, who paid him a solidarity visit at his Abuja residence.Ihedioha said, though the verdict was a shock to him, he remained calm and would always take solace in God at all times.

“We are faithful believers in God and God does not sleep. This will make history in many ways and so this is a historical process, historical action, and I am sure there will be historical answers at the end of the day.

“I want to assure you that we will remain resolute and committed to the ideals of our great party.”