The supreme court has returned Samuel Ortom of Benue and Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa as governors of their respective state, affirming the election that brought them into office as legitimate.
The apex court struck out the appeal of Emmanuel Jime, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March gubernatorial election in Benue, for lacking in merit.
Jime had challenged Ortom’s reelection on the grounds of inadequate adherence to the provisions of Electoral Act, 2010 as amended.
Jime and the APC relied heavily on the smart card readers used in the conduct of the election which they said proved over voting.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ortom and the PDP imlpored the court to disregard the appellant’s prayers.
Sebastine Hon, counsel to Ortom, argued that the appellants have no proof to substantiate to build a case as the tribunal already struck out the evidence PW59 through whom the smart card reader report was tendered.
“The appeal is overwhelmingly dependent on the card reader. The appellants’ case swims and sinks with the card reader” he said.
“However, the tribunal struck out the evidence of P59 through whom they tendered the card reader report.
“Appellants appealed to the court of appeal against that ruling but they willingly withdrew it and it was dismissed.”
Reading the Judgment, Sylvester Nwuta, a judge, said: “I have considered all the issues in this appeal and I agree with learned counsel for the respondents that the cocurrent judgment of the tribunal and the court of appeal should not be disturbed.”