Kaduna Guber: Appeal Court Affirms Uba Sani As Winner

By Salihu Ali, Abuja

Last updated Nov 24, 2023

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has declared the March 18 Governorship election in Kaduna state conclusive and affirmed Governor Uba Sani as the lawful winner of the poll.

The Appellate Court in a judgment reversed the declaration of the election as inconclusive by the Kaduna State Governorship Election Tribunal in its judgment of September 28.

Justice Obietonbara Owupele Daniel-Kalio who read the judgments of the Court of Appeal on the main and cross appeal, also reversed the order of the Tribunal on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to conduct supplementary elections in 22 polling units in four Local Government Areas of the state.

In the main appeal, Justice Daniel-Kalio resolved all the five formulated issues against the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its candidate in the 2023 election, Mohammed Ashiru.

The five issues bothered on alleged malpractices, over voting, manipulation of results collations and ballot stuffing made by PDP and its Governorship candidate.

In the cross appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress APC, which challenged the declaration of the election inconclusive, the Court of Appeal resolved the three formulated issues in favour of the party and vacated the declaration of the Tribunal.

The Court held that evidence relied upon by the Tribunal to declare the election inconclusive were manifestly bad, unreliable and ought not to have given any probative value.

A 3- man panel of Justices of the Court headed by Justice Obietonbara Owupele Daniel-Kalio and supported by James Gambo Abundaga and Mohamed Baba Idris delivered the unanimous judgments.

Reacting to the judgement, Governor Uba Sani issued a statement that reads:

“Today, the Court of Appeal affirmed the mandate freely given to me by the good people of Kaduna State. Our people graciously gave us their mandate based on our SUSTAIN Agenda. Since our assumption of office, we have been rebuilding trust, revitalizing rural economies through massive infrastructural development, addressing challenges of poverty, and empowering our youths and women.

“Our people – centered and inclusive administration has been working assiduously to build bridges of understanding among our people and frontally address the challenges of insecurity. Ours is therefore a government committed to the progress and development of Kaduna State. No area will be left behind. Everybody is a stakeholder in the Kaduna Project.

“The judgement by the Court of Appeal is therefore an opportunity for the citizens to re-commit themselves to the arduous task of revitalizing the state’s economy and making our dear state a model of development in Nigeria.

“We urge all those who have exercised their constitutional right to appeal to join hands with us to chart a new course for Kaduna State. We urge everyone to see this affirmation as a victory for Kaduna State. This is a time for reflection, not celebration. Let us focus on the tasks ahead.”

Confidence Okwuchi