The Sokoto State gubernatorial election has taken a new turn as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Mr. Saidu Umar, have approached the Supreme Court with a plea to invalidate the election of Ahmed Aliyu as Governor. This move comes as they present nine grounds upon which they seek to overturn the concurrent judgments of the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, which upheld Aliyu’s victory.
The appeal, led by a team of lawyers including Mr. Sunday Ibrahim Ameh, SAN, contends that the judgment of the Court of Appeal goes against the weight of evidence and should thus be set aside by the apex court. The appellate court had unanimously held that the appellants failed to substantiate allegations of irregularities, non-compliance, and non-qualification.
In response, Umar and the PDP have asserted that the Court of Appeal ignored the Supreme Court’s pronouncement on the application of the provision of Section 137 of the Electoral Act, 2022. They argue that the evidence on record demonstrated that the non-compliance complained of was clear from the Certified True Copies of documents relied upon, citing precedence from the Supreme Court’s judgment in OYETOLA V. INEC.
Furthermore, they contested the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of exhibits SW68 and SW87, which they claim are Certified True Copies of INEC Summary of PVCs Collected in all the polling units in Sokoto State. They emphasized that these exhibits were produced by competent witnesses and are admissible public documents that were duly certified and tendered by the maker.
The appeal to the Supreme Court seeks to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal affirming the decision of the Trial Tribunal, with additional prayers for the withdrawal of the Certificates of Return issued to the incumbent governor and his deputy. The appellants also seek a determination that Umar, having scored the majority of lawful votes, be returned as the duly elected Governor of Sokoto State, with the apex court mandating the electoral body to issue Certificates of Return accordingly.
Moreover, in light of the alleged irregularities, the appeal presses for an order directing the electoral body to conduct a rerun in the 138 polling units where the election did not hold or was cancelled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The outcome of this appeal holds significant implications for the political landscape of Sokoto State. The appellants’ plea to overturn the election results and order a rerun underscores the high stakes and intense legal battles that often accompany electoral disputes in Nigeria. The apex court, in its eventual pronouncement, will shape the political destiny of the state and bear substantial consequences for its residents.
As this legal saga unfolds, the eyes of Sokoto State, and indeed the entire nation, remain keenly fixed on the judicial process, with the hope of finding resolution and closure on this hotly contested gubernatorial election.
