The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has dismissed a petition by the Social Democratic Party’s, SDP, governorship candidate, Umar Ardo, challenging Ahmadu Fintiri’s election as Adamawa State governor.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu, affirmed the Tribunal’s previous decision led by Justice Theodora Uloho, which dismissed Ardo’s petition for being incompetent and not properly filed.

The appellate court held that the appellants did not prove the allegations of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Justice Ogakwu said there was no basis to grant the appeal.

After Fintiri was declared the winner of the poll, the SDP candidate and his party filed a petition at the State Governorship Election Tribunal.

Ardo sought the nullification of Fintiri’s re-election based on substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act, corrupt practices, threats, and violence during the exercise. However, the appellate court dismissed his petition.

The governorship election which took place in the country on 11th March 2023 was suspended and postponed in Adamawa by INEC on the grounds of being inconclusive.

The supplementary election was held on 15th March but in what shocked many Nigerians, the now suspended Adamawa REC, Hudu Yunusa Ari declared the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Aishat Binani, as the Governor-elect on 16th March 2023.

FRCN Abuja/Adetutu Adetule

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