Guber Tussles: 13 Governors Await Fate As Supreme Court Delivers Judgment

In accordance with the constitutional provisions regarding the time-sensitive nature of political cases, the Supreme Court is set to render conclusive judgments on 13 gubernatorial election legal disputes today, Friday, January 19, 2024.

The law mandates that the hearings and ultimate judgments in these cases must be completed within 60 days, after which the matters would be deemed statute barred.

On Friday, the Supreme Court will make determinations in the legal disputes over governorship elections in states such as Nasarawa, Delta, Ogun, Gombe, and Kebbi.

On Friday morning, the fate of state governors will be decided through crucial verdicts, determining whether they will continue in office or face a change in leadership. The make-or-break judgments will be delivered, providing clarity on the political landscape for the states involved.

Various political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Labour Party (LP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP), have filed cases alongside their respective governorship candidates. The outcomes of these legal battles will not only impact individual governors but also shape the political dynamics within the states represented by these parties.

Deputy Director of Press and Information of the Supreme Court, Malam Alfa Ahmed, confirmed that 13 judgments on disputes over governorship elections would be delivered on Friday.

He said that the apex court has put adequate security arrangements in place to make the judgment delivery hitch-free.

Ahmed confirmed further that counsel who represented different governors during the hearing of the cases are to come to court with only two lawyers from each chamber.

He hinted that only accredited political party leaders would be permitted into the court premises to ensure crowd control and prevent security breaches.

According to him, Department of State Service, DSS, operatives would be responsible for screening those that would access the courtroom.

He further disclosed that journalists accredited by the Supreme Court would be allowed into the courtroom and foyer of the court, depending on the number of seats allocated to them.