Femi Falana (SAN), a human rights attorney, has demanded an examination of the rulings rendered by the Court of Appeal, which resulted in the dismissal of three opposition governors.
Anaedoonline.ng is aware that Falana made this call on Sunday when appearing in a Channels TV interview.
Remember that in the governorship elections held in March 2023, Abba Yusuf (Kano), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) were proclaimed legitimately elected governors of their respective states by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
UPDATE: Appeal Court Sacks Plateau Governor, Mutfwang, Declares APC Candidate Winner
However, the governors who belonged to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) were fired by the Court of Appeal in two different rulings.
Nasir Gawuna, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, was proclaimed the winner of the poll in Kano by the Court of Appeal.
Additionally, it declared that the Zamfara State result was inconclusive and mandated that INEC hold new elections in three of the state’s local government districts.
The appellate court directed INEC to provide a Certificate of Return to APC’s Nentawe Goshwe in Plateau State in a different ruling.
Speaking during the interview, Falana said, “If you look at what happened in Lagos is different from what happened in Plateau. You are being told in Plateau that there was a judgment of the High Court to the effect that primaries have to be conducted. The judgment, as usual, was dishonoured and disobeyed and the election went on.
JUST IN: Appeal Court Sacks Kano Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf
“It is different from Kano where you are being told that voters can be punished. It is a very dangerous judicial policy to sanction voters for the mistake of electoral officers.
“We are being told that 165,000 votes are wasted, they are invalid because some electoral officers committed an error by not stamping them. How does that affect the validity of the election?
“I do hope that this time around, the Supreme Court will resolve these needless controversies surrounding the non-stamping of ballot papers by INEC officials who have not been recommended for any sanction.
“This is why these judgments will have to be reviewed.”
Follow us on Facebook
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.