By Jethro Peter
Umar Ardo, the gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Adamawa State, has officially withdrawn his appeal against the re-election of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri at the Supreme Court.
Governor Fintiri, who ran under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), secured victory in the 2023 governorship election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had previously dismissed Ardo’s petition in November, challenging Fintiri’s electoral triumph. Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu, delivering the ruling, affirmed the decision of the Tribunal led by Justice Theodora Uloho, which had earlier rejected Ardo’s petition as incompetent and improperly filed.
The appellate court ruled that the allegations of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act against INEC were not substantiated by the appellants, and therefore, there was no basis to grant the appeal.
Ardo and the SDP had initially filed a petition at the State Governorship Election Tribunal, seeking the annulment of Fintiri’s re-election, citing substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act, corrupt practices, threats, and violence during the electoral process.
Following the dismissal of his petition at the appellate court, Ardo took the case to the Supreme Court. However, in a recent development, he has chosen to withdraw the appeal against Governor Fintiri, bringing an end to the legal challenge.
