The Sokoto State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal will on Saturday, deliver Judgement on a petition filed by the 2023 Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mallam Sa’idu Umar, against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress and winner of the March 18 election, Deputy Governor Idris Gobir.
This was disclosed in a judgement notice issued by the tribunal, which was sighted on Wednesday, September 27, 2023.
According to THISDAY, the petition notice stated that “Petition No EPT/SK/GOV/01/2023 will be coming up on Saturday, 30/09/2023 at 9:00 am for Judgment.”
It is worthy of note that the Petitioner is challenging the election of Governor Aliyu and the Deputy Governor, Gobir, over non-qualification and electoral fraud during the March 18 election.
The PDP candidate had alleged that there were discrepancies in Governor Aliyu’s secondary school and university certificates, and the documents presented by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Umar insisted that no government agency had records of a “Model Primary School,” which Deputy Governor Gobir claimed issued him a primary certificate.
Consequently, the PDP flag bearer had prayed to the tribunal to cancel Aliyu’s election and declare him the winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state.
However, the respondents had also countered the claim, maintaining that their educational records were genuine, noting that they were validly elected while urging the tribunal to dismiss the petition.
Meanwhile, the three-member panel of justices led by Haruna Mshelia Sokoto had earlier in August, reserved judgment in the petition by Mallam Umar against Gov Aliyu and Deputy Gov Gobir, after hearing and adopting their respective final written addresses.
However, the notice of Saturday’s judgement has mandated all counsels to inform their clients that supporters would not be allowed into the court premises, noting that movement would be highly restricted by security agencies.
