Court of Appeal Reserves Judgment in Ardo’s Appeal Against Adamawa Governor Fintiri
In the gubernatorial election in Adamawa State, Dr. Umar Ardo, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has taken his appeal to the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Ardo is contesting the victory of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, alleging irregularities and seeking the nullification of the election results.
The appeal is a continuation of the legal dispute initiated by Ardo, who had earlier approached the Adamawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
However, the tribunal dismissed his petition, deeming it incompetent and flawed in its filing and substance.
In response to the tribunal’s decision, Ardo, alongside his deputy, Amos Yusuf, and the SDP, brought the matter to the Court of Appeal.
The appeal court recently heard arguments from both sides – Ardo and his legal team seeking the annulment of Fintiri’s victory, and the respondents, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Fintiri, Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urging the court to uphold the tribunal’s decision and dismiss the appeal.
The heart of Ardo’s challenge revolves around allegations of corrupt practises and non-compliance with electoral laws during the gubernatorial election.
The tribunal, however, had previously ruled against Ardo, citing flaws in the petition, including a lack of clarity on the relief sought and a failure to properly list witnesses.
The Court of Appeal, after carefully considering the arguments presented before it, has reserved judgement on the matter.
The decision of the appellate court will play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the gubernatorial dispute in Adamawa State.
The legal proceedings highlight the complexities and legal intricacies involved in electoral disputes, underscoring the importance of a thorough and precise presentation of cases before the courts.
Source: Daily Post
