Femi Falana, a legal luminary holding the prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), articulated his apprehensions and reservations regarding the recent decisions handed down by the appellate court.
These particular judgments resulted in the removal from office of Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State and Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State.
Falana’s expressed concerns underscored the significance of scrutinizing and critically evaluating the legal basis and implications of these rulings, given their substantial impact on the political landscape of the affected states.
Falana argued that these decisions should be reevaluated due to the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in ensuring proper elections.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics program, Falana emphasized that the courts should not nullify the votes of Nigerians based on the alleged negligence of INEC.
He particularly criticized the clearance of candidates without proper primaries and the invalidation of votes due to the failure of INEC officials to stamp ballot sheets.
The seasoned lawyer highlighted the importance of concluding election matters before the inauguration of administrations.
In the past week, the appellate court overturned the victories of three governors declared winners by INEC in the March 2023 polls, all belonging to opposition parties.
Governor Abba Yusuf of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) was replaced by the APC’s Nasir Gawuna in Kano, and in Zamfara, Governor Dauda Lawal of the PDP was removed, leading to an inconclusive election with a directive for fresh polls in three local government areas.
The court also sacked Governor Caleb Mutfwang in Plateau State, replacing him with APC’s Nentawe Goshwe.
While Falana acknowledged the affirmation of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s election in Lagos State, he criticized INEC for failing to conduct proper elections and urged those dissatisfied with the appellate court verdicts to appeal to the Supreme Court.
He pointed out the differing circumstances in Lagos and Plateau, emphasizing the need for the political class to comply with court decisions.
Falana deemed it perilous to penalize voters for electoral officers’ mistakes, especially citing the case in Kano where votes were invalidated due to the absence of stamping by electoral officers.
Falana conveyed optimism regarding the expectation that the Supreme Court would address the existing controversies related to the omission of stamping on ballot papers by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Additionally, he emphasized the necessity for a comprehensive review of the judgments that have been deemed contentious in order to ensure a thorough examination and resolution of the associated issues.
