Falana takes position on judgment sacking three opposition governors

Femi Falana (SAN), a human rights lawyer, has urged for a reconsideration of the Court of Appeal verdicts that sacked three opposition governors.

Falana made this decision during an interview on Channels TV on Sunday.

In the March 2023 gubernatorial elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) proclaimed Abba Yusuf (Kano), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) as validly elected governors of their respective states.

The Court of Appeal, on the other hand, fired the governors who were members of the opposition New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in separate rulings.

In Kano, the Court of Appeal certified Nasir Gawuna, the All Progressives Congress gubernatorial candidate, the winner of the election.

It also declared that the election in Zamfara State was invalid and ordered INEC to hold fresh elections in the state's three local government areas.

The appellate court also directed INEC to give a Certificate of Return to APC's Nentawe Goshwe in Plateau State.

During the conversation on Channels TV, Falana stated, "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 judgment of the High Court to the effect that primaries have to be conducted. The judgment, as usual, was dishonoured and disobeyed and the election went on. 

"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 the 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 judgments will have to be reviewed."