Kaduna Governor Appeals Tribunal’s Order For Supplementary Election

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani has appealed to the Court of Appeal, asking it to reverse the controversial alternative ruling of the Kaduna Governorship Election Petition Tribunal ordering a supplementary election in the state.

Despite emerging victorious from the main ruling delivered on September 28, Governor Sani is contesting the alternative majority decision which created a path for his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opponent, Ashiru Isa, to potentially claim victory.

The appeal was filed by the governor’s legal team headed by former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo SAN. While the main ruling dismissed Isa’s petition due to fatal non-compliance, the tribunal gave an alternative decision favoring the petitioner.

Isa and the PDP have also appealed the dismissal of the petition at the Court of Appeal. In his cross-appeal, Governor Sani listed 14 grounds of errors in the tribunal’s second conclusion ordering a supplementary election in 22 polling units.

The governor is seeking five reliefs including setting aside the supplementary election order, dismissing the petition’s alternative reliefs, striking out the petition as statute barred, striking it out for non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, and allowing his cross-appeal.

Through his lawyer, the governor contends the tribunal erred by relying on legally inadmissible documents, appropriating a petitioner’s witness, excluding the election result declaration date, and other grounds.

Meanwhile, petitioner Isa has provided 24 grounds in his own appeal seeking to overturn the dismissal and invalidate Governor Sani’s victory. The outcome of the appeals will determine if the controversial supplementary election order stands.

The tribunal ruling has generated intense legal debate with both parties now seeking redress at the appellate court. The Kaduna governorship election continues to be steeped in post-election controversy.