The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Thursday affirmed the election of Mohammed Ndume and Kaka Lawan of Borno South and Central senatorial districts, respectively.

The three-member panel, presided by Justice Biobele Georgewill, held that the two appeals against the lawmakers lacked merit.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, on February 25, declared Messrs Ndume and Lawan as the winners of the National Assembly election.

Dissatisfied with the declaration, Muhammed Kumalia and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenged the election of Mr Lawan. At the same time, Kudla Satumari and PDP filed a petition against Mr Ndume at the election petitions tribunal.

The tribunal dismissed both petitions.

Not satisfied with the tribunal’s judgments, Messrs Kumalia and Satumari lodged appeals before the Court of Appeal in appeal number CA/G/EP/SEN/BR/7/2023 between Mohammed Umara Kumalia & another Vs. Kaka Shehu Lawan and others, and appeal number CA/G/EP/SEN/BR/04/2023 between Kula Satumari & another Vs. INEC and others.

While Yusuf Ali represented Mr Lawan and APC, Johnson Usman appeared for INEC and Marcel Oru represented Mr Ndume in the two appeals.

The lawyers urged the court to dismiss the appeals for lack of merit.

Delivering the judgments, the court upheld the submissions of the counsels to the respondents that the two appeals lacked merit and dismissed the same while affirming the election of Messrs Lawan and Ndume, respectively.

(NAN)