Led by Inyang Okoro, a five-member panel of justices took the arguments presented by lawyers into consideration before reserving judgment.

The appeals from Lagos State were filed by the Labour Party (LP) and its candidate, Bode Rhodes-Vivour, along with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Abdulazeez Adediran, challenging the victory of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Regarding the Plateau appeal, the apex court has adjourned the hearing initially scheduled for Tuesday to January 9. This delay aims to facilitate the service of processes on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Court of Appeal in Abuja had overturned the verdict of the election tribunal on November 19, nullifying Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s election.

In a unanimous decision, the three-member panel held that Mutfwang was not validly sponsored by the PDP, as stipulated by Section 285(2) of the Nigerian Constitution.

Meanwhile, the Plateau State government has raised an alarm over an alleged attempt by the state chapter of the APC to deploy media propaganda as the state awaits the decision of the Supreme Court on the gubernatorial election.

A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Musa Ashom in Jos yesterday alleged that the main opposition party in the state was already sponsoring negative media publicity against Gov Caleb Mutfwang-administration to sway the course of justice.

“This allegation is groundless propaganda, lacking credibility. For the record, no such meeting transpired,” he said.

However, state Publicity Secretary of APC, Sylvanus Namang while reacting to the allegation advised the state government to allow freedom of the press to prevail in the state.

“The state government should not make any attempt to gag the press or resist freedom of speech in the state”, he said.