The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, November 15, reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Governor Abdullahi Sule of the APC against the judgment of the lower tribunal which removed him from office and declared David Umbugadu of the PDP winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.
The three-member Appeal panel presided over by Justice Onyemenam Uchechukwu reserved its decision after taking arguments from counsel to all the parties.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Abdullahi Sule as the winner after he polled 347,209 votes with his closest challenger, David Umbugadu of the PDP who scored 283,016 votes to come second.
Dissatisfied, the PDP and its candidate, David Umbugadu approached the governorship election petition tribunal in Lafia to challenge the declaration on the grounds that he won the election, and not Governor Abdullahi Sule as declared by INEC.
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On the 2nd October 2023, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi of the governorship election petition tribunal in a split judgement of 2 against 1 declared David Umbugadu of the PDP as the rightful winner of the March 18th Governorship election having polled 293,287 legitimate votes while Abdullahi Sule of the APC garnered 292,446 votes.
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But the minority judgement delivered by Justice Ibrahim Mashi of the lower tribunal ruled that Abdullahi Sule of the APC won the election with 295,402 votes while David Umbugadu of the PDP came second with 291,603 votes.
Both Abdullahi Sule of the APC and David Umbugadu of the PDP appealed the judgment, while Abdullahi Sule appealed the majority judgment removing him from office, David Umbugadu appealed the minority judgment which upheld Abdullahi Sule’s election.
During the appellate court hearing, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN representing Governor Abdullahi Sule urged the appellate court to allow the appeal and set aside the judgment of the lower court.
He also urged the appellate court to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by David Umbugadu of the PDP for lacking in merit, the learned silk urged the Appeal Court to uphold the minority judgement of the lower court which affirmed the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule.
Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN representing David Umbugadu and the PDP prayed to the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgment of the tribunal.
The appellate court reserves Judgment to be communicated to all parties.
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