Supreme Court Upholds Gov Fayose of Ekiti, Dismisses Petition

The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state and dismissed the petition against him.
‎In a unanimous decision by the seven-man panel led by Justice John Fabiyi, the apex court upheld the earlier decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Ekiti State Governorship Election Tribunal, which had both earlier ruled that the petition challenging Fayose’s victory lacked merit.

Delivering judgement, the court held that while impeachment was not a ground of disqualification ‎from contesting as governor, the panel which recommended Fayose for impeachment on October 16, 2006, was illegally and unconstitutionally constituted.

The court also ruled that allegations of certificate forgery is not enough to impeach him. The court said, the HND certificate Fayose presented when he signified interest to run for Governor was genuinely earned and was awarded to him.
Regarding allegations of the use of the military by Fayose to intimidate APC supporters during the June 2014 governorship election, the Supreme Court ruled that the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector-General of Police, joined as 4th and 5th defendants in the case were not necessary parties.