Tribunal reserves judgment in PDP’s petition against Sokoto governor

The Sokoto governorship tribunal has reserved judgment in the petition filed by Sa’idu Umar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Ahmed Aliyu, governor of Sokoto, and Idris Gobir, deputy governor of the state.

The governor and his deputy are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

NAN reports that the tribunal reserved judgment after the parties adopted their final written addresses on Saturday.

In his petition, Umar alleged that the duo forged the certificates they presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Aare Akinboro, counsel to Umar, said the tribunal should look at the school register of Town Primary School, Sabon Birni, from 1986 to 1987, as well as a letter from Town Model Primary School, Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto.

“None of the government agencies had records of the existence of Model Primary School as stated by Gobir to be the school that issued him primary certificate,” Akinboro said while adopting his address.

“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 Sabon Birni, and others were presented and admitted documents.”

He asked the tribunal to void Aliyu’s election and declare Umar as the winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state.

On his part, Wole Olanipekun, the counsel of the governor and deputy, asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition and uphold the election of Aliyu.