Tribunal Reserves Judgment on Election Petition against Sokoto Gov, Deputy

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

The Sokoto Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has reserved judgment on the petition against the victory of the Governor Ahmed Aliyu and his deputy, Idris Gobir, which was filed by Sa’idu Umar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

After hearing and adopting their respective final written addresses yesterday, the three-member panel of justices led by Justice Haruna Mshelia reserved judgment for a date that would be communicated to parties in September.

The petitioner, Sa’idu Umar, who was the candidate of the PDP, is challenging the election of Governor Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Gobir over non-qualification and electoral fraud during the March 18 governorship election.

At the sitting, the lead counsel to the petitioner, Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN) urged the tribunal to consider the evidence and witnesses from party agents that proved gross irregularities in the election mostly marred by violence.

Akinboro argued that more importantly, the evidence showed the discrepancy in Aliyu’s secondary school and university certificates that were different from Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) documents.

He prayed the tribunal to take cognisance of the School Register of Town Primary School, Sabon Birni from 1986-1987 and a letter from Town Model Primary School, Sabon Birni.

Akinboro highlighted that the records of all registered schools in Sabon Birni Local Government from the Federal Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board and Local Government Education Authority and other related exhibits should be strictly perused.

He added that none of the government agencies have records of the existence of a “Model Primary School” as claimed by Gobir to be the school that issued him a primary certificate.

The counsel argued that the petitioners have successfully established facts in proof of all the grounds as 32 competent witnesses that comprised INEC officials, state PDP chairman, Headmaster of the Town Model Primary School, Sabon Birni, and others were presented and admitted documents.

He further urged the tribunal to dismiss all the preliminary objections on the competency to institute the case.

He also urged the tribunal to disregard objections on the admissibility of documents tendered, as they were relevant and germane.

The petitioners’ counsel argued based on the submissions that the respondents at the time of the election were not qualified to contest the election and prayed that by virtue of the non-qualification, votes were wrongfully attributed to them.

According to him, the respondents abandoned facts as they presented two defence witnesses that were unable to counter or prove otherwise the facts presented by 32 witnesses and the weight of evidence.

He prayed the tribunal to void Aliyu’s election and declare Umar the winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

The petitioners also prayed the tribunal to mandate INEC to issue a new certificate of return to the petitioners as the duly elected Governor of Sokoto State, having scored the majority of the lawful votes cast or ordered for another election, excluding the respondents.

Counsel to the respondents led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) also adopted their final written addresses and argued that “heaven will not fall” if the tribunal dismisses the petition.

APC counsel, Mr. Hassan Liman (SAN), argued that mere variation of name does not invalidate candidacy as an arrangement of names does deter Governor Aliyu’s qualification.

The respondents prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petition and uphold the election of Governor Aliyu and Gobir.