In a decisive verdict on Monday, December 18, 2023, the Court of Appeal in Abuja rejected the petition filed by the APC and Senator Aishatu 'Binani' Dahiru, upholding the election victory of PDP's Ahmadu Fintiri as the Governor of Adamawa State.
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| GOVERNOR AHMADU FINTIRI |
Justice Tunde Oyebanji Awotoye, delivering the unanimous judgment, cited multiple irregularities and dismissed the case, emphasizing the failure of Binani and the APC to present valid witnesses who actively participated in the election.
The court deemed Campaign Coordinators, instead of Polling Agents, as mere hearsay witnesses, rendering their testimony worthless in legal terms. Justice Awotoye criticized the APC's brief of argument as contrary to the law and found fault with incomplete records of appeal.
The court declared Binani and APC's claim of victory illegal, asserting that only the Returning Officer had the authority to make such declarations. Justice Awotoye disapproved of Binani's intervention in matters under the jurisdiction of the Resident Electoral Commissioner.
In a consequential move, the Court of Appeal imposed a ₦1 million cost on Binani and the APC to be paid to Governor Fintiri and the PDP. This ruling solidifies Fintiri's position as the duly elected governor, following the earlier dismissal of Binani's petition by the Adamawa State Governorship Electoral Petitions Tribunal in October.
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