Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Supreme Court on Friday, January 12, affirmed the election of Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State.
The court, in a unanimous judgment, dismissed the appeal by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last governorship election, Chukwuma Odii Ifeanyi because it was without merit.
Mr Odii who came second in last year’s governorship election had challenged the results at the Tribunal.
The tribunal however threw out the matter arguing that Mr Odii did not prove alleged irregularities at the election.
Not satisfied with the ruling, Mr Odii took the matter to the appeal court but the court agreed with the tribunal and struck out the matter.
The PDP candidate then approached the apex court on same grounds culminating in today’s ruling.
In the lead judgment, Justice Tijjani Abubakar held that the appellants failed to prove their case before the trial court that the election was marred by non-compliance with relevant laws.
The court also held that the appellants did not prove that Nwifuru was not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the time of the election.
Justice Abubakar affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on November 24, which upheld the tribunal judgment that allowed Nwifuru’s election.
