National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Sokoto, on Friday dismissed a petition challenging the reelection of Senator Aliyu Wamakko. The tribunal also dismissed another petition against Abubakar Shehu Tambuwal’s election as senator. Both are of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ahmed Maccido, had faulted the declaration of Wamakko as winner of the February 23, senatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In his judgment, Justice Peter Akhihiero, held that he petitioner was unable to convince the tribunal by discharging the burden of proof with satisfactory evidence.
Akhihiero maintained that the burden lies on the petitioner as the tribunal lacks powers to scrutinise documents which were not analysed by the witnesses.
The judge also upheld the preliminary objections raised by Wamakko that the petition was filed outside the 21 days stipulatation period.
Dr Hassan Liman, SAN, represented Sen. Wamakko while Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi served as Maccido’s Counsel.
Maccido had alleged that the former Sokoto governor Wamakko should not have been declared winner of the poll as he did not score the majority of lawful votes cast.
But the APC senator urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition as it was statute-barred, having been filed beyond the time allowed by law.
Also former Senator Ibrahim Danbaba candidate of the PDP for Sokoto South district had challenged Tambuwal’s election on the basis of electoral malpractices.
The tribunal held that the petitioner did not prove his case beyond reasonable doubt.
