Nigeria’s Supreme Court Thursday upheld the election of Darius Ishaku as the governor of Taraba State, affirming an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal.
The court dismissed an appeal by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Aisha Alhassan (“Mama Taraba”), saying it lacked merit.
The reason for the judgement is to be given on February 22, the Supreme Court said.
“I am firmly of the view that there is no merit in this appeal. It is hereby refused,” said Justice Bodeh-Rhode Vivore, who read the lead judgement of a seven-member panel. “The judgement of the Court of Appeal is affirmed and the return of the first respondent as the governor of Taraba is affirmed.”
Hajiya Alhassan, who is now minister of women affairs, had approached the Supreme Court to challenge the decision of the Appeal Court which nullified the victory awarded to her by the Taraba State Election Tribunal.
A five-member panel of the Appeal Court in Abuja on December 31 nullified the ruling of the Taraba State Election Tribunal of November 7, which declared Mrs. Alhassan winner of the April 11 election of the state.
The tribunal ruled that the candidate of the PDP, Mr. Ishaku, was not nominated by his party, and therefore not qualified for the said election.
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