The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Ahmadu Fintiri, as the winner of the March 18 governorship election in Adamawa state.
The Supreme Court, in a judgement led by Justice John Okoro on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, unanimously rejected the appeal by Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru, seeking to throw away the judgements of the state governorship election petition tribunal and the appeal court, which affirmed the election of Fintiri.
Justice Okoro held that the declaration of Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress, as the winner of the election, by the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner was illegal and void.
According to him, only the Returning Officer, as empowered by the Electoral Act, has the authority to announce election results, and any other person doing so acts illegally.
Justice Okoro further held that the appellants (Dahiru and the APC) failed to provide credible evidence demonstrating non-compliance with relevant laws or establishing that Dahiru won the election with the majority of lawful votes.
However, the court upheld the judgments of the tribunal and the appellate court, to declare Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party, as the duly elected governor of the state.