Appeal Court Rejects Petition of the SDP, Reaffirms Fintiri’s as Governor of Adamawa

Umar Ardo, the candidate for governor of Adamawa State who is affiliated with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has submitted a suit to the Court of Appeal in Abuja, challenging Ahmadu Fintiri’s election to the position of governor of Adamawa State.

During the delivery of the ruling, Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu reaffirmed a prior decision made by the Tribunal, which had dismissed Ardo’s plea on the grounds that it was incompetent and had not been filed in the appropriate manner.

In its decision, the appeal court determined that the appellants had failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had engaged in corrupt practises and failed to comply with the Electoral Act.

According to Justice Ogakwu, there was no foundation for the appeal to be granted.

Following the announcement that Fintiri had emerged victorious in the election, the SDP candidate and his party had submitted a petition to the State Governorship Election Tribunal.

Ardo has attempted to have Fintiri’s re-election declared invalid on the grounds that there was a significant amount of non-compliance with the Electoral Act, as well as corrupt practises, threats, and violence that occurred throughout the exercise.

After then, Ardo filed an appeal against the decision made by the tribunal; nevertheless, the appellate court denied his plea.