The Supreme Court affirmed Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed’s election in a historic ruling on Friday. The Supreme Court, chaired by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, denied the appeal brought by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Sadique Abubakar, disputing the outcome of the governorship election on March 18, 2023.
Abubakar and the APC had raised concerns, contesting Governor Mohammed’s victory under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They argued that the gubernatorial contest did not adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, alleging irregularities in the completion of several electoral documents used during the poll.
Despite their contentions, both the Bauchi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and the Court of Appeal in Jos had previously dismissed Abubakar’s case, upholding Governor Mohammed’s election victory. Undeterred, the APC candidate took the matter to the Supreme Court, asserting that the lower courts did not properly evaluate his case concerning the exhibits tendered in evidence.
However, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel led by Justice Inyang Okoro, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal on Friday, citing a lack of merit. The apex court stated that it found no reason to overturn the judgments of the lower courts and resolved all the issues formulated by the appellants against them.
This verdict solidifies Governor Bala Mohammed’s legitimacy as the elected leader of Bauchi State, bringing an end to the legal challenges that surrounded the gubernatorial election. With the Supreme Court’s affirmation, Governor Mohammed can now focus on steering the state forward, addressing developmental challenges, and implementing policies for the welfare of Bauchi State residents.
