Supreme Court Affirms Francis Nwifuru’s Victory In Ebonyi Governorship Election

The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Francis Nwifuru as the Governor of Ebonyi State.

In March 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Nwifuru, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, the winner of the Ebonyi governorship election with 199,131 votes.

Ifeanyi Odii of the PDP secured 80,191 votes, while Bernard Odoh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) polled third with 52,189 votes.

Dissatisfied with the results, Odii and Odoh petitioned the tribunal, seeking to nullify Nwifuru’s victory, claiming he wasn’t a valid APC member at the time of the election.

In September 2023, the tribunal and later the Court of Appeal dismissed the petition, affirming Nwifuru’s victory.

Odii also challenged the election, alleging electoral malpractice and improper sponsorship of Nwifuru by the APC.

On Friday, January 12, 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, deeming it unmeritorious and affirming Nwifuru as the duly elected governor of Ebonyi State.

Tijani Abubakar, who led a five-member panel of the court, held that “the appeal” was always going “to fall like a pack of cards.”

“It is unmeritorious and is dismissed,” the court ruled.

KanyiDaily recalls that the Supreme Court also validated Dauda Lawal as the legitimately elected governor of Zamfara state.