Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu, has urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal lodged against his election by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Sa’adu Umar. The governor asserted that the petition is without merit and substance.
During the hearing at the Supreme Court, Governor Aliyu’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun SAN, argued that both the Sokoto State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and the Court of Appeal were correct in their findings and conclusions, leading to the dismissal of the petition last year for lack of merit. Olanipekun emphasized that none of the allegations against the governor’s election was substantiated, making the appeal liable for dismissal. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) supported this position.
On the other hand, the appellants, PDP and Umar, pleaded with the Supreme Court to find merit in the appeal and set aside the decisions of the lower courts. The appellants urged the court to declare them the lawful winners of the March 18, 2023 gubernatorial election, challenging the victory announced by INEC in favor of APC and Aliyu.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun-led five-man panel of Justices reserved judgment in the matter. The court did not announce a specific date for delivering the judgment but stated that the parties would be informed when it is ready.
Earlier, the Court of Appeal in Abuja had affirmed Ahmad Aliyu’s election as the Governor of Sokoto State, dismissing the appeal filed by PDP and its governorship candidate, Saidu Umar. The appellate court upheld the verdict of the tribunal, which had earlier dismissed the petition by PDP and Umar. The Supreme Court is now set to make a final determination in this electoral dispute.
