By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sai’du Umar, against the Appeal Court affirmation of Ahmed Aliyu as Sokoto state governor.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun led five-member panel reserved the judgment and adjourned the suit till a date to be made known to parties after hearing the appeal.
It could be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Aliyu as winner of the March 18 governorship election after polling 453,661 votes, against his PDP opponent, who polled 404,632 votes.
It was however, recalled that Umar approached the Sokoto Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal alleging non-qualification and electoral fraud during the poll.
However, the Justice Haruna Mshelia-led tribunal, on September 30, 2023, dismissed Umar’s petition for the failure of the petitioners to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Further dissatisfied, the PDP candidate approached the Appeal Court in Abuja, which also dismissed PDP’s appeal and affirmed the decision of the tribunal.
Umar made his final leap to the Supreme Court, which on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, reserved judgment in the matter.
The Sokoto governorship case lapses on the 25th of January.
