Ejes Gist News Nigeria has compiled a comprehensive list, outlining the Nigerian Governors who have been dismissed by different courts in the 2023 general elections conducted by INEC.
Amidst growing criticism of Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary’s decisions on petitions related to the 2023 governorship elections have raised concerns. Opposition parties claim the verdicts seem to favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Here is a comprehensive list of Nigerian Governors who have been sacked by different courts during the 2023 general elections:
1. Dauda Lawal
The Zamfara State Governor faced a setback when the Court of Appeal in Abuja declared his election inconclusive on November 16. INEC had initially declared Dauda as the winner, but the APC candidate, Bello Matawalle, challenged the outcome. The Court of Appeal ordered a fresh election in three local governments, deeming the initial election inconclusive.
2. Abba Kabir Yusuf
The Tribunal in Kano shattered the victory of the Kano State Governor on September 20, 2023. The tribunal, led by Justice Oluyemi Osadebay, declared Nasir Yusuf Gawuna of the APC as the authentic winner, citing 165,663 invalid votes for Governor Yusuf. The votes were deemed invalid as they lacked signatures and stamps from INEC. Governor Yusuf appealed the ruling, but on November 17, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld the tribunal’s verdict, officially sacking Yusuf as Kano State Governor.
3. Alex Otti.
Elected on the Labour Party (LP) platform, Abia State Governor Alex Otti faced removal by the Federal High Court in Kano. The court nullified Otti’s candidature and other LP candidates’ victories due to the party’s failure to submit its members’ list to INEC 30 days before the election. However, in October, the Court of Appeal in Kano dismissed the lower court’s judgment, upholding Governor Otti’s candidature and that of other Labour Party candidates.
4. Abdullahi Sule
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule had his victory nullified in October by the governorship election petition tribunal in Lafia. The tribunal declared David Ombugadu of the PDP as the duly elected Governor, stating that the petitioner successfully proved his case. Governor Sule described the judgment as a temporary setback and affirmed he remains the state governor until the Supreme Court decides otherwise.
Final Notes on Full List of Nigerian Governors Sacked by Courts
The judiciary’s role in these sackings has become a contentious issue, with ongoing debates about the fairness and impartiality of the electoral dispute resolutions. The affected governors, however, continue to express their objections to the court decisions, leaving the political landscape in flux.
