Governors of Kano, Bauchi, Plateau, Zamfara and Ebonyi on Friday arrived at the Supreme Court complex for judgment to be delivered in their respective legal battles.
The governors are Abba Kabir Yusuf, Bala Mohammed, Caleb Mutfwang, Dauda Lawal and Francis Nwifuru.
Ex-Governor Simon Lalong was also spotted in the courtroom for the make-or-mar verdict.
As expected, the governors arrived at the courtroom with a retinue of followers who were turned back immediately after escorting their principals into the courtroom.
At the time of this report, the courtroom was filled by lawyers, journalists, and accredited political party leaders.
Meanwhile, the justices are awaited in the courtroom for judgment delivery.
Mr Yusuf and his party, NNPP, had filed an appeal against the appellate court’s judgement, which affirmed his sacking earlier pronounced by the Kano governorship election petitions tribunal.
The tribunal had sacked Yusuf and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw his certificate of return and instead declare Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election.
However, Mr Yusuf approached the appellate court, not satisfied with the tribunal’s judgment. But the appellate court, while affirming his sack, further held that the governor was not an NNPP member as of the time of the election and could not have been said to have been properly sponsored for the election.
The Plateau governorship election petitions tribunal upheld Mr Mutfwang’s election. However, the appeal court overturned his victory and declared Nentawe Goshwe of the APC the winner of the election.
The court ruled that the failure of the PDP to comply with the order of the Plateau High Court directing it to conduct valid ward, local governments, and state congresses before nominating its candidates for the various elective posts was a breach of the law.
(NAN)
