Ortom vs Jime: Latest update from Supreme Court

Governor Samuel Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has urged the Supreme Court of Nigeria to dismiss the appeal filed by Emmanuel Jime of the All Progressives Congress, APC for totally lacking in merit.

This is contained in the brief of argument filed today by Governor Ortom’s legal team at the Supreme Court today.

Jime and the APC are challenging the unanimous judgement of the Court of Appeal which on November 28,2019 dismissed Jime’s appeal and affirmed the decision of the tribunal which upheld the election of Governor Ortom.

Governor Ortom who is the second respondent in the appeal urged the Supreme Court to uphold the judgement of the Court of Appeal which affirmed the decision of the tribunal that the APC candidate failed to prove that he(Ortom) was not elected by majority of lawful votes, failed to prove that the said election was marred by substantial non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010(as amended).

He further submitted that the Court of Appeal was right in affirming the decision of the tribunal as Jime and the APC failed to prove over-voting in any of the polling units in the said election, with regards to the provisions of section 49 and 53 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and judicial decisions of the Supreme Court.

Governor Ortom maintained that the testimonies of Jime’s witnesses were hear say evidence.

The date for hearing of the appeal will be communicated to the parties in matter.