SAN FRANCISCO, August 04, (THEWILL) – The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Idris Wada, former Governor of Kogi State, seeking to upturn the decision of the state election tribunal which upheld Yahaya Bello’s victory in the state’s Governorship election.
Justice Mojeed Owoade, who read the lead judgment, based on a split decision of four to one, declared that the Court held that Bello was validly substituted for the late Abubakar Audu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, who died before the conclusion of the election.
The Court also dismissed Wada’s argument that Bello was not qualified for the election because he did not participate in all stages of the election, but held that the governor participated in all the stages by virtue of his party participation and accrued interest.
Owoade also added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was right to have merged the votes scored by Audu (before he died) and that of Bello (in the supplementary election) to return the APC’s candidate as winner.
THEWILL recalls that the Appeal court also dismissed the appeal filed by James Faleke, the running mate to late Audu, but maintained that he was the recognised deputy Governor.
Story by David Oputah
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