Protests and jubilations yesterday greeted the judgments by the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court which upheld the elections of six governors in their respective states. The six governors who scaled the last legal hurdle are Governors Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Uba Sani of Kaduna, Nasir Idris of Kebbi, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Mohammed Yahaya of Gombe and Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta.

38 Protesters sent to prison in Nasarawa State

By David Odama, Abogonye Abel & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

In Nasarawa state, some protesters who protested against the apex court’s decision affirming Abdullahi Sule as the governor of the state were arrested, charged to court and remanded in prison when magistrate rejected their bail applications.

The aggrieved protesters were mostly women, They went on the streets protesting. The Nasarawa State commissioner of police, Umaru Shehu Nadada then ordered the arrest of the protesters and charged them to the Chief Magistrate Court for public disturbance.

When the matter was mentioned for hearing by the prosecuting counsel, Danjuma Allu, the Chief Magistrate, Mohammed Abdullahi Lanze reserved his ruling till Monday 22 January, 2024.
However, the defendants counsel, Iliya Ashokpa pleaded with the court to grant his clients bail which was not granted. The Chief Magistrate then ordered 38 of the protesters to be remanded at Nigeria Correctional center in Lafia. The protesters who were remanded were five men and thirty-three women.

Protests won’t change anything — Gov Sule

Governor Abdullahi Sule, in his reaction said that the protest against the Supreme Court judgement that affirmed his victory would not change anything. The governor said that the Supreme Court is the ultimate and the final count, adding that those who appreciate democracy should take the apex court’s verdict in good faith. Sule said: “In every state where the Supreme Court actually passed judgment you will find some people are happy and some other people are not happy.

But I think people who understand what democracy is all about will understand that the Supreme Court is the ultimate and is the final and those who appreciate or respect democracy should actually leave it right there because protests or no protest will not change anything, the Supreme Court has already passed its judgment. So in our own case, when we lost at the tribunal, we told everybody that nobody should protest and that’s why nobody protested, but that is the level of maturity that you will see from one political party to the other. “

Also asked to react to the apex court judgement that affirmed his victory, the governor commended President Tinubu for allowing the judiciary to do its work without any interference.

Jubilation in Delta

By Ochuko Akuopha & Paul Olayemi

THERE was jubilation across the 25 local government areas of Delta State on Friday, following the Supreme Court’s reaffirmation of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as the duly elected Governor of the State in the March 18 gubernatorial polls.

Across Asaba, the State capital, Obiaruku, Ughelli, Sapele, Kwale, Warri, Effurun, Oleh, Ozoro and other parts of the State, victory songs pervaded the air as youths, women, traders and others, thronged major streets in celebration of Oborevwori’s victor

I survived 38 legal battles to be governor —Oborevwori

Reacting to his legal victory yesterday, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori said he survived 38 legal battles in his journey to becoming governor, noting that God ordained him to govern the State.

Speaking at a thanksgiving service at the Government House Chapel Asaba on his victory at the Supreme Court, the Governor said he won all the court cases up to the Supreme Court from pre-election to post election.

Oborevwori who was joined at the thanksgiving by his wife, Deaconess Tobore, his Deputy Sir Monday Onyeme and wife, Catherine, immediate past Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and wife, Dame Edith, Governor Oborevwori said no other governor in the country had ever faced more legal battles. Expressing appreciation to God and Deltans for his victory at the Supreme Court, he promised that he and his deputy, Sir. Monday Onyeme would be servant-leaders to the people of the State. He said:

“I came to this altar before I went to Abuja for this last judgment and I said God is not a man that he should lie.
I have promised God that every time He gives me victory I must come here to thank Him. I have done it several times and I said I will also return the same day of the victory to thank God. For the Lord has redeemed me. “This victory is not about me but about the people of Delta state. The immediate past governor said that somebody that would not recognise this altar will never be governor; God has honoured that word. This case made it 38 cases for me from pre-election matters to this one. Even the governors who have done eight years did not go through such number of cases.”

Ultimate triumph of the will of the people —Onuesoke

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former Delta State Gubernatorial aspirant, Chief Sunny Onuesoke has described the verdict of the Supreme Court as the ultimate triumph of the will of the people of Delta State as expressed at the Polling Units in their resolve to continue with the good work of PDP in the state.
Reacting to the Governor’s victory, Onuesoke who spoke to journalists by the sideline at the premises of the Supreme Court in Abuja after the deliverance of the judgment rejoiced with Delta State Governor, Rt (Hon) Sheriff Oborevwori as the Supreme Court of Nigeria upheld his election as the duly elected Governor of the state.

Our Supreme Court victory, an impetus to do more —Abiodun

Similarly, Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun said that his administration will now keep its eyes on further development of the state, following his Supreme Court victory on Friday. The governor said that all attempts to distract his administration have failed, noting that the Supreme Court victory marks an end to court shopping by his political adversaries.

Prince Abiodun stated this in an interview with journalists at the Gateway International Airport, Iperu-Remo, on his arrival from Abuja. He called on the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ladi Adebutu, and other political adversaries to get ready for their re-run in 2027. “We hope our opponents who have been making a lot of noise about a re-run can prepare for a re-run in 2027.

“Now, this victory marks an end to this court shopping for adversaries and for us. It is the final victory in this journey that started in 2018. “We will now keep our eyes further focused on the ball. All attempts to distract us have failed,” he said.

Governor Abiodun also promised that his administration would now focus more on sustaining its legacies, adding that the people of the state would now begin to experience the good programmes his administration has for them. “We will now focus on sustaining our legacies, the foundation of which we laid since we assumed office in 2019 and in the coming weeks, you will see some of the goodies that we will be unveiling for the good people of the state,” he said.

Prince Abiodun expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting his political journey, his team of lawyers, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, national and state chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdulahi Umar Ganduje and Chief Yemi Sanusi for their support.

Governor Abiodun also praised the five-man panel of the Supreme Court led by Hon. Justice John Inyang Okoro, the Ogun State Governordhip Election Petition Tribunal and the Appeal Court, for affirming the choice of the people of the state.

“Today, the Supreme Court has affirmed our victory, which was earlier affirmed by the Tribunal and then the Appeal Court, but our adversaries were not satisfied. They proceeded to the Supreme Court and yet again the five-man panel led by the Hon. Justice John Inyang Okoro affirmed the wishes of the generality of the Ogun State people.

“We thank them because once again, they’ve demonstrated that they are the hope and the last one of the common man.”We want to appreciate the tribunal who laid the foundation for today’s victory. The Appeal Court further built on that foundation and all the judges of both court and, of course, now the Supreme Court led by Hon. Justice John Inyang Okoro,” he said.

Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi ascribed the victory to God Almighty.
He said that while the governor placed his trust in God, the opposition put theirs in money.

Member, House of Representatives, representing Yewa North/Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency, Hon. Gboyega Isiaka noted that the victory has finally put an end to the belief of the opposition that they could unseat the incumbent, adding that the developmental strides of Governor Abiodun is certain to continue till 2027. State Chairman of the APC, Chief Yemi Sanusi, commended the Supreme Court for ensuring that the verdict of the people was not taken away by money mongers.

Special Adviser, Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade thanked God for the victory and the truth that was made known at the Supreme Court. Mr. Akinmade said that money was put to shame, while those who placed their trust in God earned a well-deserved victory.