In a decisive ruling, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the re-election of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri as the governor of Adamawa State. The verdict comes in response to an appeal lodged by Senator Aisha Binani, the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), challenging the judgment of the state governorship election petition tribunal.
Following the supplementary election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner with 430,861 votes, while Senator Binani of the APC garnered 398,788 votes. Dissatisfied with the outcome, Binani approached the tribunal, alleging corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
A three-man panel, led by Justice Tunde Awotoye, rendered a comprehensive decision on Monday. Justice Awotoye deemed the appellant’s brief invalid, raising concerns about its competency and the potential for dismissal. The panel observed that the appellants had submitted an incompetent record of appeal, deviating from the court’s practice directions and attempting to induce speculation.
Furthermore, the appeal court dismissed Binani’s allegations of corrupt practices, asserting that they lacked sufficient evidentiary support. Justice Awotoye highlighted that the appellant’s evidence at the tribunal amounted to hearsay, warranting disregard.
“I hold that this appeal lacks merit and is dismissed,” Justice Awotoye declared unequivocally.
In a consequential move, the court ordered Senator Binani and the APC to pay a fine of N1 million to Governor Fintiri and the PDP. This penalty was imposed in response to what the court deemed a “vague” application, emphasizing the need for precision and specificity in legal filings.
With the Court of Appeal’s resolute affirmation, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s victory in Adamawa State stands reinforced, putting an end to the legal challenge mounted by the APC’s Senator Aisha Binani