PHOTOS: Governors present as s’court delivers judgment in eight guber appeals

The supreme court is set to deliver judgment in appeals challenging the governorship election in eight states.

Some of the states are Lagos, Kano, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Abia and Cross River.

The apex court had heard the appeals separately between December and January.

Political bigwigs including governors and party chieftains are present in court.

They include: Abba Yusuf, Kano governor who is challenging his removal by the court of appeal; Dauda Lawal, Zamfara governor; Bala Mohammed, Bauchi governor; Caleb Mutfwang, Plateau governor and Francis Nwifuru, Ebonyi governor.

There is heavy presence of security operatives at the supreme court complex, with police and Department of State Services (DSS) operatives milling in and around the place.

TheCable observed that those who intend to gain access to the apex court will have to show a security pass.

The apex court’s decisions on Kano, Zamfara, and Plateau states are perhaps the most eagerly anticipated, as the lower courts have already sacked the incumbent governors.

In September 2023, the Kano state governorship election petition tribunal sacked Abba Yusuf as governor of the state.

The tribunal deducted 165,663 votes from the 1,019,602 recorded for Yusuf because the ballot papers (165,663) were not stamped, signed, and dated as required by law.

The tribunal then declared Yusuf Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the election.

On November 17, the court of appeal upheld the tribunal’s verdict and added that Yusuf was not a member of the NNPP when he contested the election.

The court of appeal had equally sacked Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara, and his Plateau counterpart, Caleb Mutfwang.