Politics
Supreme Court Upholds Election of Governors Uzodimma, Diri, Ododo
The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday delivered a series of landmark judgments, affirming the elections of Governors Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, and Usman Ododo of Kogi State, following the November 11, 2023 off-cycle governorship polls.
Imo State: Hope Uzodimma’s Victory Confirmed
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who was declared the winner of the gubernatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with 540,308 votes, has had his victory upheld by the Supreme Court.
Uzodimma had defeated Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 71,503 votes, and Athan Achonu of the Labour Party (LP), who secured 64,081 votes.
After losing at both the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, the PDP and LP candidates sought the Supreme Court’s intervention, challenging Uzodimma’s victory.
However, in a unanimous decision delivered by Justice Mohammed Baba Idris, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeals filed by the PDP and LP, citing a lack of merit.
The court held that the petitioners failed to establish their claims of overvoting and electoral malpractices, thereby affirming Uzodimma as the duly elected governor of Imo State.
Kogi State: Ododo’s Election Stands
In Kogi State, the Supreme Court also upheld the election of Governor Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ododo had been declared the winner by INEC, having secured 446,237 votes to defeat his main rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who garnered 259,052 votes.
Ajaka had challenged the election results, alleging substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act. However, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment, dismissed Ajaka’s appeal, ruling that the allegations were unproven. The court further noted that claims of age falsification and certificate forgery were pre-election matters that should have been addressed at the Federal High Court, which has jurisdiction over such issues.
Bayelsa State: Diri’s Re-election Validated
Similarly, the Supreme Court affirmed the re-election of Senator Douye Diri as the Governor of Bayelsa State. Diri, who won the election with 175,196 votes, had his victory contested by Timipre Sylva of the APC, who polled 110,108 votes. Sylva had filed an appeal against Diri’s victory, but the apex court dismissed the appeal for lacking merit.
A five-member panel led by Justice Lawal Garba ruled that Sylva’s appeal was an abuse of the court process, as he had filed two notices of appeal, which contravened the provisions of the 1999 Constitution that permit only a single appeal against a tribunal judgment. The court thereby upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal, which had earlier dismissed Sylva’s case.
With these rulings, the Supreme Court has brought finality to the governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa states, reaffirming the victories of Governors Hope Uzodimma, Usman Ododo, and Douye Diri, respectively.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has called on Governor Seyi Makinde to resign immediately, alleging that his recent remarks on state security exposed incompetence and an inability to lead.
Governor Makinde, speaking during his acceptance speech as the Presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ibadan on Saturday, lamented that he could do little to rescue abducted school children and residents in Oriire Local Government Area due to all security structures being under federal control.
Reacting, APC State Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, described the governor’s comments as “the height of cluelessness, insincerity, and criminal ineptitude,” warning that such disclosures reflect a dangerous trend among parochial leaders.
Sadare said, “Engr. Seyi Makinde could not find any fault in the nation’s Constitution, yet he swore twice to protect lives and properties of Oyo people. He has long enjoyed the powers of his office, controlling resources and people without challenge, but now faces a serious test, exposing incompetence, cluelessness, and ego.”
He added, “Instead of addressing security challenges, Makinde is exploiting the situation to push a mirage he calls a presidential ambition in 2027. His insensitive comments once again reveal hypocrisy. It is time he quit the office of the governor, having admitted he lacks the capacity to secure the state.”
The APC also recalled that previous governors, including Alhaji Lam Adesina, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, and the late Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, operated under the same constitutional provisions without similar security failures. Sadare particularly praised Ajimobi for establishing a Security Trust Fund to ensure funding and stakeholder involvement in security, in contrast to the current administration.
“Makinde’s presidential ambition is dead on arrival. Our concern is the continued loss, deprivation, and mismanagement the people of Oyo may suffer in the remaining year of his tenure. The state deserves a team player, a sincere and humble governor — qualities Makinde has failed to demonstrate in seven years. He should apologise and step down,” Sadare concluded.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday emerged as the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for the 2027 general election following the conclusion of the party’s presidential nomination process.
Makinde emerged through consensus and affirmation by party delegates during the exercise, in what party leaders described as a demonstration of unity and confidence in his leadership ahead of the next general elections.
The governor was presented with his Certificate of Return by the National Chairman of the APM, Alhaji Yusuf Dantali, during a ceremony held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, amid cheers from party faithful, delegates and supporters drawn from different parts of the country.
Speaking during the presentation, Dantali said Makinde possesses the leadership qualities, administrative experience and vision required to steer the country towards sustainable growth and national development.
He urged party members across the federation to close ranks and intensify grassroots mobilisation to ensure victory for the party in the 2027 presidential election.
The APM national chairman maintained that the party remained committed to presenting Nigerians with what he described as a credible alternative capable of addressing the country’s economic, security and governance challenges.
According to him, the emergence of Makinde as the party’s flag bearer marked the beginning of a new political movement aimed at restoring hope and strengthening democratic governance in the country.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Makinde expressed appreciation to the leadership of the party and delegates for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to work with stakeholders across political, ethnic and religious divides to advance the party’s vision for national transformation.
The governor assured party supporters of his commitment to inclusive leadership, promising to prioritise policies that would improve economic prosperity, strengthen institutions and enhance the welfare of Nigerians if elected.
Five key members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have been appointed to the party’s campaign committee for the 2026 governorship re-election of Governor Abiodun Oyebanji in Ekiti State.
The Oyo APC leaders on the list include the party’s governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, former Senate leader Teslim Folarin, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, Zacch Adedeji, and Remi Oseni.
The list, signed by the party’s National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru, reflects the APC’s strategy of deploying experienced political figures with strong grassroots networks to ensure a successful re-election campaign in Ekiti.
“These appointments recognise their political experience and commitment to advancing the party’s agenda,” the source within the party said.
The APC committee is expected to coordinate campaign activities, voter engagement, and messaging, positioning the party for a strong showing in the 2026 governorship election.
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