13 Governor Face Uncertain Fate As Opposition Candidates Drag Them To Supreme Court
The fate of not less than thirteen Governors hangs on the outcome of lawsuits challenging their electoral victory at the Supreme Court.
The affected states where the Court of Appeal judgments are being challenged by the opposition candidates in the March 18 governorship election include Kano, Plateau, Abia, Delta, Cross River, Rivers, Lagos, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Taraba and Bauchi.
Lawyers representing some of the aggrieved parties in the affected states have filed their processes in court as of last Friday.
Others who had vowed to approach the Supreme Court are expected to file their papers during the week at the registry of the court.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, is also expected to empanel justices to hear the cases soon.
This is the last stage of the battle for the governor’s seats across the states where elections were held on March 18.
Any governor who loses the case at the Supreme Court has to vacate office.
This is unlike the outcomes of the election dispute cases at the lower courts (election petition tribunal and the Court of Appeal) which permitted the governors to stay in office regardless of whether they won or lost.
The Supreme Court’s decision on appeals arising from the decision of the lower courts on gubernatorial elections in the country is final.
