Tribunal Reserves Judgement On Sokoto Guber Tussle

The Sokoto State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has reserved judgement on the petition against Governor Ahmed Aliyu and Deputy Governor Idris Gobir, filed by Sa’idu Umar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

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

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

At the sitting, 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 allegedly marred with violence.

Akinboro argued that more importantly, evidence that showed discrepancies exist in Governor Aliyu’s secondary school and university certificates that were different from the ones presented by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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

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

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

Akinboro 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, to Sabon Birni, and others were presented and admitted documents.

He further urged the tribunal to dismiss all the preliminary objections on competency to institute the case and disregard objections on the admissibility of documents tendered as they were relevant and germaine.

The petitioners counsel argued based on the submissions, 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 a bundle 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 petitioner 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.

The respondents’ counsel led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) also adopted their final written addresses.

APC counsel, Mr Hassan Liman (SAN,) argued that mere variation of name does not validate candidacy as 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.