The Supreme Court upheld the judgement of the Court of Appeal on Friday, 12th January, affirming Simon Otu as the rightful winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Cross River State.
Governor Otu’s victory faced challenges when the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sandy Onor, filed an appeal, contesting the outcome. However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal in November 2023, citing a lack of merit.
This decision echoed the earlier ruling by the election petition tribunal on September 26, 2023, where Onor’s case met a similar fate. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Otu as the winner, securing 258,619 votes and dominating in 15 out of the 18 local governments in the state. Onor, the closest rival, garnered 179,636 votes.
With the Supreme Court’s affirmation, Governor Otu’s mandate remains intact, solidifying his position as the duly elected governor of Cross River State.
