The Supreme Court has deferred judgment in the appeal lodged by Sai’du Umar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate challenging the victory of Ahmad Aliyu as Sokoto State Governor. A five-member panel of justices, presided over by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, adjourned the case without specifying the next hearing date.
In the March 18, 2023, governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner with 453,661 votes, surpassing Umar’s 404,632 votes. Dissatisfied with the results, Umar contested the outcome, citing alleged non-qualification and electoral fraud.
Despite Umar’s petitions to the Sokoto Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and subsequent appeal to the Court of Appeal, both bodies upheld Aliyu’s victory. The tribunal, in a unanimous decision, dismissed Umar’s case for failing to provide substantial evidence. The Court of Appeal in Abuja, last November, also affirmed Aliyu’s election, asserting no grounds to overturn the tribunal’s verdict.
The case reached the Supreme Court, where judgment has now been reserved. The apex court will decide the fate of the appeal, determining whether Umar’s claims merit reconsideration.
In a related matter, the Supreme Court will also handle an appeal filed by Sani Yahaya, the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), seeking the removal of Taraba State Governor Kefas Agbu of the PDP. Both cases have deadlines, with the Sokoto governorship appeal expiring on January 25, and the Taraba case on January 26. The Supreme Court’s decisions will shape the outcomes of these contentious gubernatorial disputes.
