Sokoto Governorship Election Tribunal Admits 2 Letters on Gobir’s School Certificate, as PDP Closes Case
The Election Petition Tribunal in Sokoto state, on Tuesday admitted in exhibits two letters on Sokoto state Deputy Governor, Muhammad Idris Gobir’s educational qualifications and adjourned sitting till July 19.
Tribunal Chairman, Justice Haruna Mshelia, adjourned the case after Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its 2023 Governorship candidate, Alhaji Sa’idu Umar, closed their case.
The exhibits admitted were from Sabon Birni Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) tendered by Mr Muyiwa Akinboro SAN, the led Counsel to PDP and Umar.
At the sitting, Akinboro led the state party chairman, Alhaji Bello Goronyo, who was the last among 32 witnesses lined up to prove the petition at the tribunal.
In his testimony, Goronyo said he delegated some party members as agents and received reports on election violence and associated fraud which were compiled and submitted to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant authorities.
He admitted that some persons were arrested for alleged violence and malpractices, however, could not confirm if they were prosecuted or not.
The party chairman told the tribunal that he was not aware of any court judgment on Gov. Aliyu and Deputy Governor Gobir’s eligibility to contest election.
Akinboro also presented the Head of Operations in INEC in Sokoto, Abdulmumini Usman, who produced some election documents in evidence.
The lead Respondents’ Counsel, Chief Jecob Ochidi SAN and the APC lead Counsel, Hassan Liman SAN objected to the admissibility of the documents and further cross examined the witnesses.
INEC lead Counsel Mr AbdulAziz Sani SAN also aligned himself with the submissions of Respondents Counsel.
Justice Mshelia adjourned to July 19 for APC to open defense.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Umar and PDP approached the tribunal demanding the nullification of March 18, 2023 election that produced Gov. Ahmad Aliyu of All Progressive Congress (APC) and his Deputy, Idris Gobir as winners.
In the petition, petitioners alleged that the election was flawed, as it did not comply with electoral laws.
The petitioners argued that at the time of the election the Respondents were not qualified to contest and prayed that by virtue of the non-qualification of the Respondents to contest the election, votes were wrongfully attributed to them.
They further prayed to Tribunal to mandate INEC to issue a new certificate of return to the petitioner as the duly elected Governor of Sokoto State having scored the majority of the lawful votes cast or order another election excluding the Respondents
Sokoto Governorship Election Tribunal Admits 2 Letters on Gobir’s School Certificate, as PDP Closes Case
The Election Petition Tribunal in Sokoto state, on Tuesday admitted in exhibits two letters on Sokoto state Deputy Governor, Muhammad Idris Gobir’s educational qualifications and adjourned sitting till July 19.
Tribunal Chairman, Justice Haruna Mshelia, adjourned the case after Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its 2023 Governorship candidate, Alhaji Sa’idu Umar, closed their case.
The exhibits admitted were from Sabon Birni Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) tendered by Mr Muyiwa Akinboro SAN, the led Counsel to PDP and Umar.
At the sitting, Akinboro led the state party chairman, Alhaji Bello Goronyo, who was the last among 32 witnesses lined up to prove the petition at the tribunal.
In his testimony, Goronyo said he delegated some party members as agents and received reports on election violence and associated fraud which were compiled and submitted to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant authorities.
He admitted that some persons were arrested for alleged violence and malpractices, however, could not confirm if they were prosecuted or not.
The party chairman told the tribunal that he was not aware of any court judgment on Gov. Aliyu and Deputy Governor Gobir’s eligibility to contest election.
Akinboro also presented the Head of Operations in INEC in Sokoto, Abdulmumini Usman, who produced some election documents in evidence.
The lead Respondents’ Counsel, Chief Jecob Ochidi SAN and the APC lead Counsel, Hassan Liman SAN objected to the admissibility of the documents and further cross examined the witnesses.
INEC lead Counsel Mr AbdulAziz Sani SAN also aligned himself with the submissions of Respondents Counsel.
Justice Mshelia adjourned to July 19 for APC to open defense.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Umar and PDP approached the tribunal demanding the nullification of March 18, 2023 election that produced Gov. Ahmad Aliyu of All Progressive Congress (APC) and his Deputy, Idris Gobir as winners.
In the petition, petitioners alleged that the election was flawed, as it did not comply with electoral laws.
The petitioners argued that at the time of the election the Respondents were not qualified to contest and prayed that by virtue of the non-qualification of the Respondents to contest the election, votes were wrongfully attributed to them.
They further prayed to Tribunal to mandate INEC to issue a new certificate of return to the petitioner as the duly elected Governor of Sokoto State having scored the majority of the lawful votes cast or order another election excluding the Respondents
