By Isah Aliyu Chiroma
The Sokoto Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has fixed Saturday for the delivery of judgment in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the March 18 election, Mallam Sa’idu Umar, against Governor Ahmed Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Deputy Governor Idris Gobir, his running mate.
According to a report by Thisday, a judgment notice issued by the tribunal Wednesday said “Petition No EPT/SK/GOV/01/2023 will be coming up on Saturday, 30/09/2023 at 9:00 am for Judgment.”
The notice mandated counsels 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 Sokoto had in August reserved judgment in the petition by Mallam Umar against Governor Aliyu 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 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 as well as the documents presented by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He also insisted that no government agency had records of a “Model Primary School”; the school Deputy Governor Gobir claimed issued him a primary certificate.
Umar had consequently prayed the tribunal to void Aliyu’s election and declare him the winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election.
Governor Aliyu and his deputy had countered the claim, insisting that their educational records were genuine, stating that they are validly elected and urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition.
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