The Supreme Court has given reasons behind its earlier verdict setting aside Court of Appeal’s judgment which sacked Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.
In an unanimous decision, the panel of Supreme Court justices agreed that the Lower Court erred by declaring the candidate of All Peoples Grand Alliance, Alex Otti the winner of the governorship election .
The panel led by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed held that the Appellate Court usurped the power of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which is the only organ empowered to cancel polling results.
The court also faults the Lower Court’s reliance on card reader for its judgment.
According to the Apex Court, the card reader machine has no statutory backing in Nigeria’s law and should not be used to determine a winner in any election.
The panel also held that the allegation on voting was not proved as the petitioner failed to tender voter’s register to substantiate his claims.
