By Nuel Suji – The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Yahaya Bello as the elected governor of Kogi State.
The seven-man panel headed by Justice Sylvester Ngwata affirmed the election after listening to the closing statements of all the counsel.
Bello’s election has a subject of litigation after been presented as a substitute candidate by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after the death of Abubakar Audu, original flagbearer.
Both James Faleke, the running mate to late Audu and Idris Wada, immediate past governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the election had gone to court to challenge the election. Both have also lost to Bello but pursued the case to the Supreme Court.
But the Supreme Court in its unanimous ruling Tuesday held that Bello was validly substituted and the winner of Saturday, November 21, 2015 State Governorship election.
Both Faleke and Wada have earlier lost at both State’s Election Petition Tribunal and Appeal Court.
The Court also announced that it would make public reasons for its ruling, Friday, September 30, 2016.
