Breaking News: Supreme Court Upholds Gov. Ishaku's Election

 

The Supreme Court has upheld the outcome of the April 11, 2015, governorship election that produced Governor Darius Ishaku of the People Democratic Party, PDP.

 

The judgement was delivered by a seven-man panel of Justices of the apex court, in a unanimous judgment this afternoon. It dismissed the the appeal that was lodged by Senator Aisha Jumai Alhassan of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

 

Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour while delivering the lead verdict said: “I am of the firm view that there is no merit in this appeal and it is hereby dismissed. The Judgment of the ‎Court of Appeal is affirmed and the election of governor Darius Ishaku is hereby upheld.” Justice Rhodes-Vivour held.

 

The reasons for the judgement was reserved till February 22.

 

It would be recalled that Senator Alhassan who is currently the Minister of Women affairs, had prayed the apex court to set aside the verdict of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal which earlier upheld governor Ishaku’s election.

 

‎The appellate court had on December 31, 2015, reversed the judgment of the Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which nullified Ishaku’s election.

 

In voiding the decision of the tribunal, a five-man panel of Justices of the appellate court, held that Ishaku, validly won the governorship contest.

 

It maintained that the Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar led tribunal,‎ “grossly misdirected itself”,  when it not only nullified governor Ishaku’s election, but went ahead to declare the APC candidate winner.