Falana Reacts To Judgements Sacking Governors, Reveals What Should Happen

Falana Reacts To Judgements Sacking Governors, Reveals What Should Happen

Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has asserted that the recent rulings of the appellate court, which led to the removal of Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State and Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, merit reconsideration.

Falana argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) neglected its responsibility to oversee proper elections in the country.

Read Also See What They Did To Tinubu When He Arrived Berlin For G20 Conference (VIDEO)

During an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics program, Falana emphasized that the court should not nullify the votes of Nigerians due to the alleged negligence of the electoral body.

He criticized INEC for allowing candidates without conducted primaries to participate and stressed that court decisions should not invalidate thousands of votes over INEC officials’ failure to stamp ballot sheets.

Read Also Zimbabwe Vs Nigeria – Who Is To Blame For This Goal Scored Against Super Eagles? (VIDEO)

The senior lawyer insisted that election-related matters should be resolved before the commencement of any administration. In the past week, the appellate court overturned the victories of three governors declared winners by INEC in the March 2023 elections, all of whom belonged to opposition parties.

Yusuf of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) was replaced by Nasir Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano. In Zamfara, the court declared the PDP’s Governor Dauda Lawal’s victory inconclusive, ordering a fresh election in three local government areas.

Read Also BREAKING: Stunning Reason Why Court Sacked Mutfwang As Plateau Governor

The appellate court also ousted PDP’s Mutfwang in Plateau State, instructing INEC to issue a Certificate of Return to APC’s Nentawe Goshwe, citing a violation of the court order regarding a valid congress.

However, the appellate court affirmed the election of APC’s Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Lagos State. Falana, in discussing the appellate court’s judgments, criticized INEC for its lack of due diligence before and during the elections and advised those dissatisfied with the rulings to seek recourse at the Supreme Court.

“If you look at what happened in Lagos is different from what happened in Plateau. You are being told in Plateau that there was a judgement of the high court to the effect that primaries have to be conducted. The judgement, as usual, was dishonoured and disobeyed and the election went on,” the senior lawyer said.

“It is different from Kano where you are being told that voters can be punished. It is a very dangerous judicial policy to sanction voters for the mistake of electoral officers. We are being told that 165,000 votes are wasted, they are invalid because some electoral officers committed an error by not stamping them. How does that affect the validity of election?

“I do hope that this time around the Supreme Court will resolve these needless controversies surrounding the non-stamping of ballot papers by INEC officials who have not been recommended for any sanction.

“This is why these judgements will have to be reviewed.”

Stay Updated With More News By Joining Our WhatsApp Group With The Link Below

https://chat.whatsapp.com/HbO11pwVPsL8tBHkSChpMe