Election Trinunal: Sokoto Governor Knows Fate Saturday

Sokoto State governorship election petition tribunal has fixed Saturday for the delivery of judgement in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the March 18, 2023 election, Mallam Sa’idu Umar against Governor Ahmed Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the deputy governor Idris Gobir.

A judgement notice issued by the tribunal yesterday reads, “Petition No EPT/SK/GOV/01/2023 will be coming up on Saturday at 9am for Judgement.”

The notice mandated counsel to inform their clients that supporters would not be allowed into the court premises as movement would be highly restricted by security agencies.

The three-member panel of justices led by Haruna Mshelia, had in August reserved judgement in the petition by Mallam Umar against Governor Aliyu and his deputy, after hearing and adopting their respective final written addresses.

The petitioner is challenging the election of Governor Aliyu and deputy governor Gobir, over non-qualification for the election and electoral fraud during the March 18 governorship election.

Umar had alleged that there were discrepancies in Governor Aliyu’s secondary school and university certificates and the documents presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

He also insisted that no government agency had records of a “Model Primary School”; the school deputy governor claimed to have issued him a primary certificate.

However, Governor Aliyu and his deputy had countered the claim, insisting that the educational records were genuine and that they are validly elected and urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition.